Red Bull Racing has officially announced that Isack Hadjar will stay alongside four‑time world champion Max Verstappen as his teammate for the 2027 Formula 1 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 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 Verstappen has signed a fresh contract extending his stay at the team until at least the end of 2030. Team principal Laurent Mekies praised Hadjar, saying, "From day one, Isack has been exceptional both on and off the track. Considering this is only his second year in Formula 1, extending his contract was an easy decision." Mekies highlighted the young driver’s dedication, noting that Hadjar spends countless hours in the Milton Keynes factory working closely with his engineers to fine‑tune the car and constantly seeks ways to improve his performance. Mekies added that the rookie displayed remarkable composure during his first weekend in Melbourne, quickly proving he belonged in the Red Bull seat.
The second seat at Red Bull has traditionally been the most demanding on the grid, with former occupants such as Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda all finding it difficult to match Verstappen’s pace. Hadjar, however, has already shown he can compete closely with the Dutchman and has even out‑performed him on a few occasions this season, reducing the pressure on his position.
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 the reversal of Pierre Gasly’s speeding penalties. Mekies described the period following Hadjar’s injury as "challenging," but emphasized that the new contract reflects the team’s confidence in his abilities and their excitement to see him back on track.
Sky Sports F1 analyst Craig Slater explained that Hadjar’s injury resulted from a heavy‑bag boxing drill that went wrong during his fitness routine. "He’s recovered and will be back this weekend," Slater said, adding that the team’s interim driver, Liam Lawson, performed admirably in Hadjar’s absence, but no one was surprised when Red Bull confirmed the Frenchman’s continuation. Slater noted that Hadjar 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 instantly grasped the scale and ambition of the operation. There are so many talented people at the factory, and it’s a privilege to race alongside a four‑time champion like Max. From the moment I signed, I committed myself to the team, and with the support of Laurent and everyone in Milton Keynes, I’ve been able to justify the faith placed in me. I’m constantly listening, learning and pushing myself further each day." During the drivers’ press conference in Baku, Hadjar admitted he was completely relaxed about the contract talks, even claiming he was unaware of the length of the new deal.
"I let my people handle the negotiations," he said. "I focus on the track and let the results speak for themselves." When asked whether the contract spanned multiple years, Hadjar replied, "I don’t really know, and I don’t mind. If you perform well, you stay, and that’s it." He also provided an update on his wrist injury, describing it as a small fracture outside the wrist that required no surgery.
"It’s a long recovery, but I’m six weeks out and the bone is strong enough to handle the stresses. The simulator tests have gone well, and the car feels almost identical to the cockpit, so I’m confident I’ll be fine on race day. 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." Hadjar explained 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 intends to be more cautious in the future.
"Next time I’ll think twice and maybe strap my wrist," he said with a smile. The announcement means that the top four teams—Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull—have now locked in their driver line‑ups through 2027.
Alpine, Williams and Cadillac also have their 2027 rosters confirmed, while Audi will retain Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg. The remaining teams—Racing Bulls, Haas and Aston Martin—still have decisions to make.
Aston Martin’s seat could open if Fernando Alonso decides to retire, a move that would create a valuable opportunity for a newcomer. In other driver market news, Britain’s Oliver Bearman is set to remain at Haas, but his teammate Esteban Ocon may lose his seat as Haas is expected to promote Ferrari junior Rafael Camara for 2027 after his impressive Formula 2 performances. Red Bull’s own junior program continues to produce talent, with Nikola Tsolov leading the F2 championship and the team likely to give a promising youngster a Formula 1 debut as soon as possible. However, Red Bull faces a difficult choice because both current Racing Bulls drivers, Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson, are delivering strong results this season, making any decision to drop one of them a delicate matter.
The upcoming weekend’s schedule includes a packed program of F2 and F1 sessions in Azerbaijan, with practice, qualifying and race times listed for both categories. All events will be streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event, and viewers are encouraged to use the Chrome browser for the best video player experience. Overall, the confirmation of Hadjar’s future at Red Bull underscores the team’s commitment to nurturing young talent while maintaining a stable driver lineup that can challenge for championships well into the next decade.