Red Bull has officially confirmed that Isack Hadjar will stay beside Max Verstappen as the team’s second driver for the 2027 Formula 1 campaign. The French youngster joined the Oracle Red Bull Racing stable at the beginning of the current season after a standout rookie year with Racing Bulls in 2025.
Although a wrist injury forced him out of the final three rounds of the championship, the 21‑year‑old has recovered sufficiently to return for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. The announcement comes on the heels of Red Bull’s earlier statement that four‑time world champion Max 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 journey with Isack.
Since he arrived at the start of the year he has been outstanding both on and off the track, especially given that this is only his second season in Formula 1. Extending his deal was therefore an easy decision." Mekies added that Hadjar immersed himself in the team from day one, spending countless hours in the Milton Keynes factory working closely with his engineers to develop the car and constantly seeking ways to improve his performance. Mekies highlighted Hadjar’s composure during his debut weekend in Melbourne, noting that the young driver handled the step up to a top‑tier car with remarkable poise and quickly earned his place beside the Dutch champion. The second seat at Red Bull has traditionally been the most demanding on the grid, with previous occupants such as Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda all struggling to match Verstappen’s pace.
Hadjar, however, has shown he can compete more closely with the champion, even out‑performing him on a few occasions this year, which has helped to shield his seat from criticism. Despite missing the last three events due to a fracture sustained during a boxing‑based training session, Hadjar remains eighth in the Drivers’ Championship and reclaimed a podium finish at Monaco after Red Bull and McLaren successfully appealed a penalty imposed on Gasly. Mekies described the period following the injury as "difficult" for Hadjar but emphasized that the contract extension demonstrates the team’s confidence in his abilities and their eagerness to see him back on track. Sky Sports F1 commentator Craig Slater explained that Hadjar injured his wrist by striking a heavy bag during his boxing workouts, a routine part of his fitness regime.
Slater noted that while Liam Lawson performed admirably as a stand‑in, there was little surprise when Red Bull confirmed Hadjar would retain the seat, calling him perhaps the most competitive teammate Verstappen has had since Daniel Ricciardo left the team. Hadjar himself expressed enthusiasm about staying with Oracle Red Bull Racing, stating, "I am really excited to continue with the team.
I joined eight months ago and immediately grasped the scale and ambition of the organisation. There are countless talented people at the factory, and driving alongside a four‑time world champion is a privilege I do not take lightly.
From the moment I signed, 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. I constantly listen, learn and push myself further each day." When asked about the contract negotiations during the post‑race press conference in Baku, Hadjar admitted he was completely relaxed about the talks and did not even know the length of the new deal. "I let my people handle the discussions," he said. "I focus on the track, and that’s it.
It was very easy." Regarding the specifics of his wrist injury, Hadjar explained that he suffered a small fracture outside the wrist but avoided surgery, opting for a natural healing process. He described the recovery as lengthy and still somewhat painful, but after six weeks the bone was strong enough to withstand the stresses of racing. He tested the car on the simulator, noting that the experience felt almost identical to being in the actual cockpit, and expressed confidence that the adrenaline of a real race would compensate for any lingering discomfort. He also mentioned that the training sessions had been dull because he could not use his left arm much.
Hadjar clarified that Red Bull has not imposed any new restrictions on his training routine, though he acknowledged he will be more cautious in the future, especially when incorporating boxing into his regimen. "Next time I will be more careful and maybe strap myself," he said with a smile.
The driver line‑ups for the sport’s current top four teams—Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull—are now locked in for 2027. Alpine, Williams and Cadillac have also secured their drivers, while Audi plans to keep Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hülkenberg together. This leaves Racing Bulls, Haas and Aston Martin as the only teams still finalising their 2027 rosters. Aston Martin could see a vacancy if Fernando Alonso decides to retire, as his future remains uncertain amid dissatisfaction with the current regulations.
Meanwhile, Haas is expected to retain Britain’s Oliver Bearman, but his teammate Esteban Ocon may lose his seat if the team promotes Ferrari junior Rafael Camara, who impressed in Formula 2. Red Bull continues to monitor its junior talent, with Nikola Tsolov leading the F2 championship and the team historically quick to promote promising youngsters.
However, the decision is complicated by the strong performances of current Racing Bulls drivers Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson, making any potential reshuffle delicate. The upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend features a packed schedule, including F2 practice and qualifying sessions, the F1 practice runs, and the main race itself, all of which will be streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event.
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