Isack Hadjar Signs Contract Extension as Max Verstappen’s Red Bull Teammate for 2027

Contract Extension and Return at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Red Bull confirmed the contract extension on Wednesday, September 23, locking in their driver lineup well ahead of schedule. Isack Hadjar returns to the cockpit for this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix after missing the previous three rounds due to a wrist injury sustained while boxing as part of his training program during last month’s summer break.

Despite sitting out three consecutive race weekends, the 21-year-old maintains eighth place in the Drivers’ Championship standings with 71 points so far. His consistency includes points finishes and a third-place podium secured at the Monaco Grand Prix in June, which he reclaimed after Red Bull and McLaren successfully appealed Pierre Gasly’s overturned speeding penalties. Hadjar has been consistent, placing in the top six in each of his last seven races, but has rarely been able to challenge four-time champion Verstappen’s pace.

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The second seat at Red Bull alongside Verstappen is widely regarded as the toughest on the F1 grid after several drivers including Pierre Gasly, Alex Albon, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda all struggled against the Dutchman. But Hadjar has been closer to Verstappen than those drivers and has even got the better of his team-mate at times this season, so his seat has not come under scrutiny. Hadjar stepped up to Red Bull at the start of this year after an impressive debut campaign with Racing Bulls in 2025. Yet Hadjar navigated the transition with composure that immediately convinced team leadership.

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“We’re very excited to continue our journey with Isack. 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, which made extending his contract an easy decision,” said Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies.

Mekies highlighted the driver’s work ethic, noting that Isack immersed himself in the team from the very beginning, spending every minute at the factory with his engineers to develop the car, always eager to learn and improve. You could see from that first weekend in Melbourne that he handled the step up with remarkable composure and had earned his place in this seat.

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“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 and we can’t wait to see him back out on track,” continued Mekies. “We still have a lot we want to achieve this season, but it’s a great feeling to know that the drivers, engineers and everyone back at the factory are all heading in the same direction, committed and together.”

Laurent Mekies

Inside Hadjar’s Perspective on Joining the Four-Time World Champion

Stepping into a garage alongside a four-time world champion requires resilience. Red Bull had already announced last month that four-time world champion Verstappen signed a new contract to stay at the team until at least the end of 2030, creating a stable long-term anchor for the organization.

“I am really excited to continue with Oracle Red Bull Racing,” Hadjar said. “I came to this team eight months ago and immediately understood the scale and ambition of this organization.”

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There are so many talented people at the factory, and you're aware of the privilege of driving for such an incredible team alongside a four-time world champion like Max, Hadjar added. “From the moment I signed, I set out to dedicate 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 had in me. I’m constantly looking to listen, learn and push myself further every single day, which only makes me more excited about what lies ahead.”

The 2027 F1 Grid Picture Taking Shape

With Hadjar’s renewal secured, F1’s current top four teams—Mercedes, Ferrari, McLaren, and Red Bull—have now all locked in their driver line-ups for 2027 with no changes. Alpine, Williams, and Cadillac’s drivers are all under contract for 2027 while Audi are set to keep their pairing of Gabriel Bortoleto and Nico Hulkenberg. That leaves Racing Bulls, Haas, and Aston Martin as the only teams yet to nail down their drivers for next year.