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 1 season. The French youngster, who joined the squad at the beginning of the current campaign after a standout debut with Racing Bulls in 2025, missed the final three rounds of the year due to a wrist injury sustained during a summer training session.
He is now fully recovered and will return to action at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend, a race that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. The announcement comes on the heels of Red Bull's earlier confirmation that Verstappen has extended his contract until at least the close of 2030.
Team principal Laurent Mekies praised Hadjar's progress, saying, "From day one, Isack has been exceptional both on‑track and off‑track. He arrived at the team midway through his second Formula 1 season and his professionalism made the decision to extend his deal an easy one." Mekies added that Hadjar spent countless hours in the Milton Keynes factory, working side‑by‑side with his engineers to fine‑tune the car, and that his composure during his debut weekend in Melbourne demonstrated that he belonged in the seat. The second driver role 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 found it difficult to match Verstappen's pace.
Hadjar, however, has shown he can compete closely with the Dutchman, even out‑qualifying him on a few occasions this year, which has helped to insulate his position from the usual scrutiny that follows the Red Bull bench. Despite missing the last three events, 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 setback caused by the injury, noting that the extension "shows how much confidence we have in Isack and how eager we are to see him back in the car." He also highlighted the unity within the team, stating that drivers, engineers and factory staff are all aligned in their goals for the remainder of the season. Sky Sports F1 analyst Craig Slater explained the nature of Hadjar's injury: "He hurt his wrist by hitting a heavy bag during a boxing workout, which is part of his training regime.
He has now recovered and will line up beside Verstappen in 2027. In his absence, Liam Lawson performed admirably, but there was never any doubt that Hadjar would retain the seat.
He's arguably Verstappen's toughest teammate since Daniel Ricciardo left the team." Hadjar himself expressed enthusiasm about staying with Oracle Red Bull Racing: "Joining the team eight months ago, I immediately grasped the scale and ambition of the operation. The talent here is extraordinary, and driving alongside a champion like Max is a privilege.
From the moment I signed, I committed myself to the project, and with the support of Laurent and the whole Milton Keynes crew, I've been able to justify the faith they've placed in me. Every day I aim to listen, learn and push my limits further." When questioned at the drivers' press conference in Baku about the contract talks, Hadjar admitted he was largely hands‑off, saying, "I let my people handle the negotiations.
I focus on the track, and the rest falls into place. If you're good, you stay." He also gave an update on his wrist condition, describing a small fracture just outside the joint. "There was no need for surgery, so the healing has been natural, though it will remain painful for a while.
I'm about six weeks out now and the bone is strong enough to handle the stresses of driving. The simulator tests went well, and the environment feels almost identical to the cockpit, so I’m confident I’ll be fine when the adrenaline kicks in on track.
The training sessions have been dull without using my left arm, but I’m back on track now." The injury occurred during a routine boxing drill, and Hadjar confirmed that Red Bull has not imposed any new restrictions on his training regimen, though he said he will be more cautious in the future: "Next time I'll think twice, maybe strap my wrist, but there are no formal limits. I'm not a child; I just need to be smarter about it." Red Bull is now the only top‑four team that has fully locked in its 2027 driver line‑up, alongside Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren. Alpine, Williams and Cadillac have also secured their drivers through 2027, while Audi will keep Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg together.
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 have a ripple effect across the market.
Alonso has hinted that his future announcement will not come soon, expressing dissatisfaction with the current regulations and prompting FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem to comment on the need to accelerate the development of Aston Martin's Honda power unit. In the meantime, Britain's Oliver Bearman is set to remain at Haas, while his teammate Esteban Ocon may lose his drive if Haas promotes Ferrari junior Rafael Camara for 2027 after his impressive Formula 2 campaign. Red Bull's own junior program continues to produce talent, with Nikola Tsolov leading the F2 championship and the team traditionally eager to promote its prospects quickly. However, Red Bull faces a delicate choice, as both current Racing Bulls drivers Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson have delivered strong performances this year, making any decision to drop one of them a tough call.
The upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix weekend will feature a packed schedule, with practice sessions, qualifying and the race itself spread across three days. The event will be streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event and is part of a broader triple‑header that includes F2 support races. Fans can follow the action via Sky Sports F1, with the option to stream through NOW without a long‑term contract.