Red Bull Racing has officially confirmed that Isack Hadjar will stay alongside four‑time world champion Max Verstappen as his teammate for the 2027 Formula 1 season. The French driver, who joined the team at the beginning of the current year after a standout debut with Racing Bulls in 2025, missed the final three rounds of the championship because of a wrist injury sustained during a training session in the summer break. He is now medically cleared, has returned to the garage, and will line up for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this Saturday, an event broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. The announcement follows Red Bull's earlier confirmation that Verstappen has extended his contract to remain with the squad 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 arrived at the start of the year he has impressed both on‑track and off‑track, especially given that this is only his second season in Formula 1. Extending his deal was therefore an easy decision for us." Mekies added that Hadjar immersed himself in the team's technical environment from day one, spending countless hours in the Milton Keynes factory collaborating with his engineers to develop the car.
"The composure he showed in Melbourne during his debut weekend was remarkable, and it quickly earned him the respect of the whole operation," Mekies noted. The second seat at Red Bull has long been considered the toughest on the grid.
Former drivers such as Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda all found it difficult to match Verstappen’s pace, and many left the team after short stints. Hadjar, however, has already demonstrated that he can compete closely with the Dutchman, even edging him out on a few occasions this season.
As a result, his position has not been subject to the same level of scrutiny that other Red Bull teammates have faced. Despite missing the last three race weekends, 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 initially stripped Pierre Gasly of his result. Mekies commented on the driver’s recovery, stating, "The period following his injury was challenging for Isack, but this contract extension shows how much faith we have in his talent. We are eager to see him back in the car and contributing to our goals for the remainder of the season." Sky Sports F1 analyst Craig Slater explained the circumstances of Hadjar's injury: "He injured his wrist and forearm by striking a heavy bag during his boxing training, which is part of his fitness regime.
He has now recovered and will be back at the wheel for the Baku race. In his absence, Liam Lawson performed admirably, but nobody was surprised to see Hadjar retain the seat.
He has been Verstappen's most competitive teammate since Daniel Ricciardo departed the team." Hadjar himself expressed enthusiasm about the new deal: "I am genuinely excited to continue with Oracle Red Bull Racing. I joined eight months ago and instantly grasped the scale and ambition of this organisation. The talent pool here is extraordinary, and driving alongside a four‑time champion like Max is a privilege I cherish. 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 confidence placed in me.
Every day I aim to listen, learn and push my limits further." When questioned at the drivers' press conference in Baku, Hadjar said he had taken a relaxed approach to the contract talks and admitted he was unaware of the exact length of the new agreement. "I let my management handle the negotiations.
I focus on delivering performance on the track, and the rest falls into place," he explained. When asked whether the contract spanned multiple years, he replied, "I don't know the details, but if you perform well, you stay. That's all that matters to me." Regarding his wrist injury, Hadjar described a small fracture on the outside of his wrist that required a lengthy, non‑surgical rehabilitation process.
"It’s been a slow recovery, and it will remain slightly painful for a while, but after about six weeks the bone is strong enough to handle the stresses of racing," he said. He added that his simulator work had gone well, noting that the virtual environment closely replicates the physical sensations of a real car, especially when combined with the adrenaline of an actual race.
"The training sessions have been dull because I couldn’t use my left arm, but the simulator gave me confidence that I’m ready to return," he added. Hadjar confirmed that the injury occurred during a routine boxing workout and that Red Bull has not imposed any new restrictions on his training regimen, although he now plans to be more cautious. "Next time I’ll think twice before throwing a heavy punch, maybe strap my wrist, but there are no formal limits.
I’m not a child; I just need to be smarter about it," he said. The driver line‑ups for the sport's top four teams—Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull—are now locked in for 2027, with no changes expected. Alpine, Williams and Cadillac have also confirmed their 2027 drivers, while Audi will retain Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg. The remaining teams—Racing Bulls, Haas and Aston Martin—still have open seats, and speculation is rife about possible moves.
Fernando Alonso remains a wild card; his decision to continue racing will heavily influence Aston Martin’s driver market. Alonso has hinted that a decision is not imminent, citing dissatisfaction with current regulations and ongoing discussions about Honda's engine supply to Aston Martin.
In other news, Britain’s Oliver Bearman is set to stay at Haas, but his teammate Esteban Ocon could lose his seat if Haas decides to promote Ferrari junior Rafael Camara, who impressed during his Formula 2 campaign. Red Bull’s own junior program continues to produce talent, with Nikola Tsolov leading the F2 championship and likely to be considered for an F1 seat soon.
However, the team faces a delicate situation as both Racing Bulls drivers Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson are delivering strong performances, making any decision to drop one of them a difficult one. The upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix schedule is packed with support events: F2 practice sessions, qualifying, and races will run alongside the main Formula 1 weekend. Key times include F2 practice on Thursday morning, F2 sprint on Friday, and two F2 feature races on Saturday, all of which will be streamed live on Sky Sports Main Event.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix itself will kick off on Saturday at midday, with live coverage available via Sky Sports F1 and the NOW streaming platform, offering a contract‑free, cancel‑anytime viewing option. Overall, the confirmation of Hadjar’s continued role at Red Bull underscores the team’s confidence in its young talent and its commitment to maintaining a stable driver lineup as it pursues further championships in the coming years.