Red Bull Racing has officially announced that Isack Hadjar will stay alongside Max Verstappen as his teammate for the 2027 Formula One campaign. The French driver, who joined the team at the beginning of the current season after a standout debut with Racing Bulls in 2025, missed the final three rounds of the championship because of a wrist injury sustained during a summer training session.
He is now cleared to race and will line up for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend, broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. The confirmation comes just weeks after Red Bull revealed that four‑time world champion Max Verstappen has signed a fresh deal extending his stay with the squad until at least the end of 2030.
Team principal Laurent Mekies praised Hadjar’s progress, saying, "From the moment he arrived we saw a driver who was eager to learn, to immerse himself in the engineering process and to extract every ounce of performance from the car. His composure in Melbourne showed he belonged in this seat, and extending his contract was a straightforward decision." Hadjar, now 21, has already demonstrated that he can compete at the highest level. While the second seat at Red Bull is widely regarded as the most demanding on the grid—previous occupants such as Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda have all struggled to match Verstappen’s pace—Hadjar has frequently been the only driver to challenge the Dutchman on a regular basis. He even managed to out‑qualify or out‑race Verstappen on several occasions this season, reinforcing the team’s confidence in his abilities.
Despite missing the last three events, Hadjar remains eighth in the Drivers' Championship and reclaimed a podium finish at Monaco after Red Bull and McLaren successfully appealed the reversal of Pierre Gasly’s speeding penalties. Mekies added, "The period after his injury was tough for Isack, but this new contract shows how much faith we have in his talent and determination. We are all aligned—drivers, engineers, and the factory crew—towards a common goal for the remainder of the season." Sky Sports F1 analyst Craig Slater noted, "Hadjar’s absence was due to a wrist injury caused by a heavy bag during his boxing training. He’s fully recovered now and will partner Verstappen in 2027.
In his absence, Liam Lawson performed admirably, but no one was surprised that Red Bull chose to keep Hadjar. He has been Verstappen’s most competitive teammate since Daniel Ricciardo left." Hadjar himself expressed enthusiasm about the extension: "Joining Oracle Red Bull Racing eight months ago, I instantly grasped the scale and ambition of this organisation. The talent here is extraordinary, and the privilege of racing alongside a four‑time champion is something I cherish. From day one I have committed myself to the team, and with the support of Laurent and everyone in Milton Keynes, I have been able to justify the confidence placed in me.
Every day I aim to listen, learn and push my limits further." When asked about the contract negotiations at the drivers' press conference in Baku, Hadjar admitted he was completely relaxed about the talks, even saying he was unaware of the exact length of the deal. "I let my people handle the paperwork.
I focus on the track, and that’s it. If you perform well, you stay." He also spoke candidly about his wrist injury. The fracture, located just outside the wrist, required no surgery and has been healing naturally.
"It’s a long process and still painful at times, but after six weeks the bone is strong enough to handle the stresses of racing. The simulator tests went well, and the feeling is almost identical to being in the cockpit, so I’m confident I’ll be fine on track. The training sessions have been dull because I can’t use my left arm much, but I’m eager to get back to full fitness." The injury occurred during a routine boxing workout, a part of his cross‑training regimen. Red Bull has not imposed any new restrictions on his training, but Hadjar said he will be more cautious in the future.
"Next time I’ll think twice, maybe strap my wrist, but there are no bans. I’m not a child; I just need to be smarter about it." With Red Bull, Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren all confirming their driver line‑ups for 2027, the remaining teams are still in flux. Alpine, Williams and Cadillac have already secured their 2027 drivers, while Audi will retain Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg. The only seats still undecided belong to Racing Bulls, Haas and Aston Martin.
Aston Martin’s situation hinges on Fernando Alonso’s future. If the two‑time champion decides to retire, a coveted seat will open up. Alonso has hinted that a decision is not imminent, expressing dissatisfaction with the current regulations and noting that FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem wants to accelerate the development of Aston Martin’s new Honda power unit.
At Haas, British rookie Oliver Bearman appears set to stay, but his teammate Esteban Ocon could be displaced if the team brings in Ferrari junior Rafael Camara, who impressed in Formula 2. Meanwhile, Red Bull’s junior program continues to produce talent: Nikola Tsolov leads the F2 championship and Red Bull has a history of promoting promising drivers quickly. However, the team faces a delicate choice, as both Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson have delivered strong performances this year, making any decision to drop one of them difficult. The upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend is packed with action.
Saturday will feature the main race, preceded by practice sessions on Friday and Saturday morning. The schedule also includes F2 practice, qualifying and sprint races, all broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event. Fans can stream the coverage via NOW, with the flexibility to cancel at any time.
In summary, Isack Hadjar’s contract extension cements his place in one of the sport’s most competitive line‑ups and signals Red Bull’s confidence in his long‑term potential. His recovery from injury, steady points haul and ability to challenge Verstappen have all contributed to a decision that looks set to shape the team’s future for years to come.