Red Bull Racing has officially confirmed that Isack Hadjar will continue as Max Verstappen's teammate for the 2027 Formula 1 campaign. The French driver, who joined the team at the start of the current season after a standout rookie year with Racing Bulls in 2025, missed the last three rounds because of a wrist injury sustained during a training session over the summer break.
Now fully recovered, Hadjar is set to return to the grid at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend, an event that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. The announcement follows Red Bull's earlier confirmation that four‑time world champion Max Verstappen has signed a new contract extending his stay with the team until at least the end of 2030.
Team principal Laurent Mekies praised Hadjar, saying, "We are thrilled to keep Isack with us. Since his arrival at the beginning of the year, he has impressed both on‑track and off‑track, especially given that this is only his second season in Formula 1.
Extending his contract was therefore a straightforward decision." Mekies added that Hadjar threw himself into the Red Bull environment from day one, spending countless hours in the Milton Keynes factory alongside his engineers, constantly seeking ways to improve the car's performance. "You could see during his debut weekend in Melbourne how composed he was, handling the step up to a top‑tier car with remarkable poise.
He earned his place in the seat," Mekies noted. The second seat at Red Bull is widely regarded as the most demanding on the grid. Over the years, drivers such as Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda have all found it difficult to match Verstappen's pace. Hadjar, however, has shown he can compete closely with the Dutch champion and has even out‑performed his teammate on several occasions this season, keeping his position under little scrutiny.
Despite missing the final three races, Hadjar remains eighth in the Drivers' Championship and reclaimed a podium finish at the Monaco Grand Prix after Red Bull and McLaren successfully appealed a penalty that had originally stripped Pierre Gasly of his result. Mekies highlighted the resilience required during Hadjar's recovery period, stating, "The weeks after his injury were challenging, but this contract extension demonstrates the confidence we have in his talent.
We look forward to seeing him back in the car and contributing to our goals." Sky Sports F1 analyst Craig Slater explained the circumstances of Hadjar's injury: "He injured his arm and wrist while hitting a heavy bag during his boxing training. He has now recovered and will race this weekend, securing his place alongside Verstappen for 2027. In his absence, Liam Lawson performed admirably, but no one was surprised that Red Bull chose to keep Hadjar, who has been one of Verstappen's most competitive teammates since Daniel Ricciardo's departure." Hadjar himself expressed enthusiasm about remaining with Oracle Red Bull Racing.
"When I joined eight months ago, I instantly grasped the scale and ambition of this organization. The talent pool here is extraordinary, and driving alongside a four‑time world champion is a privilege. From day one, I have dedicated myself to the team, and with the support of Laurent and everyone in Milton Keynes, I have been able to justify the faith placed in me.
Every day I aim to listen, learn and push my limits further," he said. During the drivers' press conference in Baku, Hadjar admitted he was completely relaxed about the contract talks, even claiming he was unaware of the exact length of the new deal. "I let my people handle the negotiations.
I focus on the track, and that's it. It was very easy," he explained when asked whether the agreement spanned multiple years.
"I don't really know the specifics, but if you're good, you stay." When questioned about his wrist injury, Hadjar described it as a small fracture just outside the joint, noting that surgery was unnecessary and that his recovery has been natural but gradual. "It will remain painful for a while, but after six weeks the bone is strong enough to handle the stresses of racing. I tested the simulator and felt it was almost identical to the cockpit, so with the adrenaline of an actual race I should be fine.
The training sessions have been dull because I couldn't use my left arm much," he added. The injury occurred during a routine boxing workout, and while Red Bull has not imposed new restrictions on his training regimen, Hadjar acknowledged he will be more cautious in the future. "Next time I'll be more careful, maybe strap my wrist. I'm not a child; I just need to think twice before throwing a punch," he said with a smile.
The top four teams—Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull—have now locked in their driver line‑ups for 2027, leaving Alpine, Williams and Cadillac also under contract. Audi will retain Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg, while Racing Bulls, Haas and Aston Martin remain the only outfits without confirmed drivers for the next season.
Aston Martin's future may hinge on Fernando Alonso's decision; if the two‑time champion retires, a seat could open up. Alonso has hinted that any announcement will not come soon, citing dissatisfaction with current regulations and ongoing discussions with FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem about accelerating the development of Aston Martin's Honda engine partnership. In the meantime, Britain's Oliver Bearman is expected to stay at Haas, though teammate Esteban Ocon could be displaced if the team brings in Ferrari junior Rafael Camara for his F1 debut in 2027 after a strong Formula 2 campaign.
Red Bull's own junior program continues to produce talent, with Nikola Tsolov leading the F2 championship and the team traditionally promoting its youngsters quickly. However, Red Bull faces a difficult choice this year, as both Racing Bulls drivers Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson have performed admirably, making any decision to drop one of them a tough one.
The upcoming weekend's schedule is packed with action. On Thursday, September 24, F2 practice begins at 6:55 am, followed by the Azerbaijan GP practice sessions and qualifying throughout the day. Friday, September 25, features the F2 sprint, more practice, and the F2 feature race before the main Formula 1 qualifying session at 1 pm. Saturday, September 26, culminates with the F2 feature race, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix itself, and post‑race analysis.
All events will be streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event and available via NOW for those who prefer an on‑demand subscription. In summary, Isack Hadjar's continuation with Red Bull Racing through 2027 solidifies his status as one of the most promising young drivers on the grid. His resilience after injury, rapid adaptation to a top‑tier car, and competitive spirit alongside Max Verstappen have earned him the confidence of the team hierarchy.
As the 2026 season progresses and the 2027 driver market takes shape, Hadjar's presence at Red Bull adds another layer of intrigue to the evolving landscape of Formula 1.