Red Bull Racing has officially confirmed that Isack Hadjar will continue as Max Verstappen's 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 last three Grand Prix due to a wrist injury sustained during a summer training session. He is now medically cleared and will return to the grid at this weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix, broadcast live on Sky Sports F1.
The announcement comes on the heels of a separate deal revealed last month, in which four‑time world champion Max Verstappen extended his contract with Red Bull until at least the close of 2030. Team principal Laurent Mekies praised Hadjar, stating, "We are thrilled to keep Isack with us. Since his arrival at the start of the year he has performed exceptionally both on‑track and behind the scenes, especially given that this is only his second season in Formula 1. Extending his deal was therefore a straightforward choice." Mekies added that Hadjar immersed himself in the team's operations from day one, spending countless hours in the Milton Keynes factory collaborating with his engineers to develop the car.
"His eagerness to learn and improve was evident from his first weekend in Melbourne, where he displayed remarkable composure for a rookie and quickly earned his place in the seat," the team boss said. The second seat at Red Bull is widely regarded as the most demanding on the grid. Former teammates such as Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda have all struggled to match Verstappen's pace.
Hadjar, however, has shown he can compete closely with the Dutch driver, even edging him on a few occasions this season, which has helped keep his position under less scrutiny. Despite missing 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 acknowledged the difficulty of Hadjar's recent injury layoff, saying, "The past weeks have been tough for Isack, but this contract extension demonstrates our confidence in his talent. We look forward to seeing him back at full speed." Sky Sports F1 analyst Craig Slater noted, "Hadjar was out for the last three rounds because he injured his wrist while hitting a heavy bag during his boxing training.
He has now recovered and will be back for the Baku race. In his absence, Liam Lawson performed admirably, but no one was surprised that Red Bull chose to retain Hadjar. He has been Verstappen's most competitive teammate since Daniel Ricciardo's departure." Hadjar himself expressed enthusiasm about staying with Oracle Red Bull Racing, saying, "Joining the team eight months ago, I immediately grasped the scale and ambition of the operation. There are countless talented people here, and driving alongside a four‑time champion like Max is a privilege.
From the moment I signed, I have dedicated myself to the project, and with the support of Laurent and the entire Milton Keynes crew, I have been able to justify the faith placed in me. Every day I aim to listen, learn and push my limits further." When asked about the contract negotiations during the post‑race press conference in Baku, Hadjar admitted he was completely relaxed about the talks, even stating he was unsure of the exact length of the new deal.
"I let my management handle the discussions. I focus on delivering on the track, and everything else falls into place," he said. When probed about whether the agreement spanned multiple years, he responded, "I don't know the exact term, but if you perform well you stay, and that's all that matters." Regarding his wrist injury, Hadjar explained that he suffered a small fracture outside the wrist during a routine boxing workout. "There was no need for surgery; the healing process is natural but lengthy.
It will remain painful for a while, but after about six weeks the bone is strong enough to handle the stresses of racing. I tested the car in the simulator and felt the environment mirrors the cockpit closely, so with the adrenaline of a race I expect to be fine," he said. He added that the rehabilitation period was monotonous, as he could not use his left arm much, describing the training sessions as "boring." Hadjar confirmed that Red Bull has not imposed any new restrictions on his training regimen, though he acknowledged he will be more cautious in the future. "Next time I will think twice and maybe strap my wrist better.
I'm not a child; I just need to be more mindful," he remarked. The top four teams—Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull—have all solidified their driver line‑ups through 2027. Alpine, Williams and Cadillac also have contracts in place, while Audi will retain Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg. The remaining teams—Racing Bulls, Haas and Aston Martin—are still finalising their rosters.
Fernando Alonso's future remains uncertain; his potential retirement could open a seat at Aston Martin. Meanwhile, Haas is expected to keep Oliver Bearman but may replace Esteban Ocon with Ferrari junior Rafael Camara for 2027 after his impressive Formula 2 performances. Red Bull continues to nurture its junior talent, with Nikola Tsolov leading the current F2 championship.
The team faces a delicate decision regarding its current Racing Bulls drivers, Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson, both of whom have delivered strong performances this year. The upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend will feature a packed schedule, including F2 practice and qualifying sessions, the F1 practice runs, and the main race itself, all broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event. Fans are encouraged to use the Chrome browser for the best video playback experience.