Red Bull confirms Hadjar for 2027 alongside Verstappen
Isack Hadjar will remain at Red Bull for the 2027 Formula 1 season, having impressed in his first year with the team. The 21-year-old has been closer to Max Verstappen's pace than any team-mate since Daniel Ricciardo, with a best finish of third at Monaco. Team principal Laurent Mekies called the decision an easy one, citing Hadjar's composure and performance despite missing three races with a wrist injury.
Hadjar's qualifying performances this season show a narrow 0.239-second average gap to Verstappen, with three out-qualifying results across Australia, Japan, and Britain. However, two of those instances were aided by circumstances: Verstappen crashed early in Australian qualifying and suffered an engine power loss at Silverstone. The Frenchman's third-place finish at Monaco stands as his career highlight so far.
The wrist injury, sustained during a boxing training session, sidelined Hadjar for three races before his return at this weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix. His contract extension arrives alongside Verstappen's own two-year renewal, which now binds the four-time champion to Red Bull through 2030, securing the team's driver lineup for the foreseeable future.
This confirmation may reassure Red Bull fans seeking long-term stability, pairing a proven champion with a developing young talent. It could also influence the broader driver market, as other teams assess their own lineups against Red Bull's locked-in pairing. For Hadjar, the extended commitment may ease pressure to perform immediately, though comparisons to Verstappen will persist. The decision could signal to aspiring junior drivers that consistent progress, even without wins, remains a viable path to top-team security.