Red Bull Racing has officially confirmed that Isack Hadjar will stay alongside four-time world champion Max Verstappen as the team's second driver for the 2027 Formula One season. The Frenchman, who was promoted to the senior squad at the beginning of the current year after a standout rookie year with Racing Bulls in 2025, missed the last three Grands Prix because of a wrist injury sustained during a summer training session. He is now declared medically fit and will return to the cockpit for 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 Verstappen has extended his contract to remain with the team until at least the end of 2030. Team principal Laurent Mekies praised Hadjar, saying, "We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Isack.
Since he joined us at the start of the year, his performance both on‑track and off‑track has been exemplary, especially given that this is only his second season in Formula 1. Extending his deal was therefore a straightforward decision." Mekies added that Hadjar "immersed himself in the team from day one, spending countless hours in the factory with his engineers, constantly seeking ways to improve the car and his own driving.
His composure during his debut weekend in Melbourne was remarkable, and he quickly earned the respect of his peers and the confidence of the organization." The role of Red Bull's number‑two driver 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, and the seat has often been a revolving door. Hadjar, however, has shown a closer performance gap to the Dutchman than many of his predecessors.
On several occasions this season he has out‑qualified or even out‑finished Verstappen, which has insulated his position from the usual scrutiny. Even after 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 commented on the driver’s resilience, stating, "The period following his injury was challenging, but this contract extension demonstrates the belief we have in his talent and potential. We look forward to seeing him back at full speed on the track." Sky Sports F1 analyst Craig Slater explained the circumstances of the injury: "Hadjar injured his arm and wrist by striking a heavy bag during a boxing session that forms part of his fitness routine.
He has recovered and will be back for the Baku weekend. In his absence, Liam Lawson performed admirably, but there was never any doubt that Hadjar would retain the seat.
He's arguably been Verstappen's most competitive teammate since Daniel Ricciardo's departure." Hadjar himself expressed enthusiasm about the new deal: "I am extremely excited to continue with Oracle Red Bull Racing. I joined the team eight months ago and instantly grasped the scale and ambition of the operation.
The factory is filled with incredibly talented people, and driving alongside a four‑time world champion is a privilege I do not take lightly. From the moment I signed, I committed 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 strive to listen, learn and push my limits further." During the post‑qualifying press conference in Baku, Hadjar said he had taken a relaxed approach to the contract talks and admitted he was not even aware of the exact length of the agreement.
"I let my management handle the negotiations. I focus on delivering on the track, and the rest follows naturally. If you perform well, you stay – that's all there is to it," he remarked when asked whether the deal spanned multiple years.
He also gave an update on his wrist injury, describing it as a small fracture just outside the joint. "There was no need for surgery; the healing process has been entirely natural.
It will remain sore for a while, but after about six weeks the bone is strong enough to handle the stresses of racing. I tested the car on the simulator and felt comfortable – the simulation environment is almost identical to the cockpit, so if it feels right there, it should translate onto the track. The training sessions have been a bit dull because I couldn't use my left arm much, but I'm eager to get back to full fitness." Hadjar clarified that the injury occurred during a routine boxing workout and that Red Bull has not imposed any new restrictions on his training regimen, though he acknowledged he will be more cautious moving forward. "Next time I'll think twice before throwing a heavy bag.
Maybe strap my wrist up a bit – it's common sense. There are no formal limits, but I will certainly be more mindful." With Red Bull, Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren all confirming their driver line‑ups for 2027, the remaining teams are still shaping their rosters. Alpine, Williams and Cadillac have already secured their drivers, while Audi plans to keep Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg together. The only seats still uncertain belong to Racing Bulls, Haas and Aston Martin.
Aston Martin's situation hinges on Fernando Alonso's decision; if the two‑time champion chooses to retire, a coveted seat will open up. Alonso has hinted that a decision will not come soon, expressing dissatisfaction with the current technical regulations and noting FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem's comments about accelerating the resolution of Aston Martin's engine supply issues with Honda. In the meantime, Britain's Oliver Bearman appears set to remain at Haas, while his teammate Esteban Ocon may be displaced if the team opts to promote Ferrari junior Rafael Camara for the 2027 season after his impressive Formula 2 campaign. Red Bull's own junior programme continues to produce talent, with Nikola Tsolov currently leading the F2 championship.
The team faces a delicate choice, as both Racing Bulls drivers Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson have delivered strong performances this year, making any decision to drop one of them a difficult one. The upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend schedule is packed with action: on Thursday, September 24, F2 practice begins at 6:55 am, followed by qualifying and the team bosses' press conference. Friday features the F2 sprint, the third F1 practice session, and the F2 feature race, while Saturday culminates with the F2 second feature race, the main Grand Prix start at noon, and post‑race analysis.
All sessions will be streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event, with the option to watch via NOW without a long‑term contract. Overall, Hadjar's contract extension underscores Red Bull's confidence in his abilities and signals a stable driver line‑up for the dominant team as they aim to continue their championship dominance into the late 2020s.