Red Bull Racing has officially confirmed that Isack Hadjar will remain as Max Verstappen’s teammate for the 2027 Formula 1 season. The announcement was made ahead of this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where the 21-year-old French driver is set to return to competition after recovering from a wrist injury sustained during the summer break.
Hadjar moved up to the senior Red Bull team earlier this year following a strong debut campaign with Racing Bulls in 2025. Although he missed the previous three race weekends due to his injury, officials confirmed he is now fit enough to race. His return comes as part of a busy triple-header of F1 events, with the Baku race scheduled for Saturday at midday.
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies praised Hadjar’s integration into the team, noting that extending the contract was an easy decision given his performance and work ethic. “Since joining us at the start of the year, he has been superb on and off track, especially considering this is only his second Formula 1 season,” Mekies said. He highlighted Hadjar’s dedication to car development and his composure during his first race in Melbourne.
The seat alongside Verstappen has been described as one of the most challenging on the grid, having seen drivers such as Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Liam Lawson, and Yuki Tsunoda struggle to match the four-time world champion. However, Hadjar has been closer to his teammate than previous drivers in the role and has even outperformed Verstappen at times this season, shielding his position from scrutiny.
Despite missing recent races, Hadjar currently sits eighth in the Drivers’ Championship standings. He also reclaimed a podium finish at the Monaco Grand Prix after Red Bull successfully appealed against penalties issued to Gasly, which had originally dropped the Alpine driver’s results.
Mekies added that the extension reflects the team’s belief in Hadjar’s potential. “The period since his injury has been a difficult one for Isack, but this extension is a testament to how much we believe in him,” he stated. The confirmation also follows last month’s announcement that Verstappen has signed a contract extension keeping him at Red Bull until at least the end of 2030.
The Monaco podium appeal was a clutch move. Glad Red Bull trusts him enough to stick around long-term.
I remain skeptical about another young driver handling the Verstappen shadow. History suggests this won’t last past 2028.
Wait, he missed three races and is still eighth? That’s genuinely surprising consistency in a top team.
How does anyone shadow Verstappen without crumbling? That’s a massive amount of pressure to handle so gracefully.
Great news! Hadjar has been impressive for his age. Excited to see him back in Baku.