Red Bull extends Isack Hadjar contract through 2027 alongside Max Verstappen

Contract extension confirmed ahead of Baku

Red Bull Racing confirmed on 23 September 2026 that Isack Hadjar will remain with the team through the end of the 2027 Formula 1 season. The 21-year-old French driver, who turns 22 on 28 September, signed a one-year extension to his original agreement that was due to expire at the conclusion of 2026. Hadjar will continue to drive alongside four-time world champion Max Verstappen, whose own contract with the Milton Keynes-based organization runs until 2030. The announcement secures Red Bull's driver pairing for next year ahead of the upcoming race weekend in Azerbaijan.

Recovery and return from wrist fracture

The contract extension coincides with Hadjar's scheduled return to competitive racing at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku. Hadjar sat out the previous three Grands Prix in Zandvoort, Monza, and Madrid after fracturing his wrist during boxing training over the summer break. Speaking at the official press conference in Baku, Hadjar described the time away as frustrating but confirmed that his wrist is healed sufficiently for competition. While acknowledging that minor pain remains, he stated that the joint is functional enough to meet racing requirements on the street circuit.

The period following his injury was difficult for Isack, but this extension is proof of our confidence in him and we look forward to seeing him back on track.

Career progression and Red Bull promotion

Hadjar earned his seat at Red Bull at the start of 2026 after finishing as Formula 2 runner-up in 2024 and completing his rookie Formula 1 campaign across 23 Grands Prix with sister team Racing Bulls in 2025. He became the eleventh driver developed through the Red Bull Junior Team to race for the senior outfit. His appointment followed a turbulent period for Red Bull's second car, including the departure of Sergio Perez in 2024 and a 2025 season in which the team fielded both Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda. Hadjar established competitive consistency early in 2026, qualifying third in Australia and finishing third on the podium in Monaco.

Team integration and championship standings

In the 2026 Drivers' Championship standings, Hadjar holds eighth place with 71 points, having recorded a run of seven consecutive top-six finishes between the Canadian Grand Prix and the summer hiatus. Teammate Verstappen occupies sixth place with 145 points. Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies praised Hadjar's work ethic, technical collaboration with team engineers, and composure since his debut in Melbourne. Hadjar indicated that establishing long-term stability with the team allows him to focus fully on the remaining races of the calendar.

I am really thrilled to continue the adventure with Oracle Red Bull Racing. I joined this team eight months ago and immediately took the measure of the scale and ambition of this organisation. I seek to constantly listen, learn, and push myself each day, which only reinforces my enthusiasm for what lies ahead.