Red Bull has officially announced that Isack Hadjar will continue as Max Verstappen's 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 last three rounds because of a wrist injury sustained during a summer training session.
Now fully recovered, Hadjar is back on the grid for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this Saturday, with the race being broadcast live on Sky Sports F1. The confirmation comes after Red Bull revealed last month that four‑time world champion Max 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 keep Isack on board. 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." Mekies added that Hadjar threw himself into the team culture from day one, spending countless hours in the Milton Keynes factory alongside his engineers, constantly seeking ways to improve the car. "You could see from his debut weekend in Melbourne how composed he was with the step up to a top‑tier car, and he quickly earned his place in the seat," Mekies said.
The second seat at Red Bull is widely considered 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.
Hadjar, however, has shown himself to be a closer rival to the Dutch driver, even out‑qualifying or out‑performing him on several occasions this year, which has helped keep his position secure. Despite missing the final three races, Hadjar remains eighth in the Drivers' Championship and reclaimed a podium finish at Monaco after Red Bull and McLaren successfully appealed a penalty that had originally stripped Pierre Gasly of his result. Mekies emphasized that the injury period was challenging for the young driver, but the new contract underscores the team's belief in his potential. "We have many goals for the remainder of the season, and it's reassuring to know that drivers, engineers and the entire factory crew are aligned and committed," he said.
Sky Sports F1 analyst Craig Slater noted, "Hadjar was out for three rounds after injuring his wrist by hitting a heavy bag during his boxing training. He's recovered and will be back alongside Verstappen in 2027.
Liam Lawson filled in admirably, but no one was surprised that Hadjar got the nod. He's probably 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. There are so many talented people at the factory, and driving for such an incredible outfit alongside a four‑time champion is a privilege. 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 they've placed in me.
Every day I aim to listen, learn and push myself further." During the post‑race press conference in Baku, Hadjar said he was completely relaxed about the contract talks, even admitting he didn't know the length of the new deal. "I let my people handle the negotiations.
I focus on the track, and that's it. It was very straightforward," he explained.
When asked if the agreement spanned multiple years, he replied, "I don't really know, I don't care. If you're good, you stay." He also addressed his wrist injury, describing it as a small fracture outside the joint that required a lengthy, non‑surgical recovery. "It will be painful for a while, but after about six weeks it's strong enough to handle the stresses of racing. The simulator tests went well, and the car feels almost identical to the real cockpit, so I expect to be fine on track," Hadjar said.
He admitted that the rehabilitation period was dull, as he could do almost nothing with his left arm. The injury occurred during a routine boxing workout, and while Red Bull has not imposed new restrictions on his training, Hadjar said he will be more cautious in the future. "Next time I'll be more careful, maybe strap my wrist.
I'm not a child; I just need to think twice before pushing too hard," he remarked. Across the sport, the top four teams—Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull—have already locked in their driver line‑ups for 2027. Alpine, Williams and Cadillac have also secured their contracts, 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 reshape the driver market. In other news, Britain's Oliver Bearman is expected to remain at Haas, but his teammate Esteban Ocon may lose his place as Haas is rumored to give Ferrari junior Rafael Camara his F1 debut in 2027 after a strong Formula 2 season.
Red Bull's junior program continues to produce talent, with Nikola Tsolov leading the current F2 championship. However, Red Bull faces a delicate choice, as both Racing Bulls drivers Arvid Lindblad and Liam Lawson have performed admirably this year, making any decision to drop one of them difficult. The upcoming Azerbaijan Grand Prix will feature a packed schedule, with practice sessions, qualifying and the race itself broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event. Fans can also follow the supporting F2 events, including practice, sprint and feature races, all streamed alongside the main event.
The race weekend promises high‑octane action as Hadjar aims to prove his fitness and competitiveness, while Red Bull looks to cement its dominance heading into the final years of its current driver lineup.