Red Bull has confirmed Isack Hadjar will remain as the team’s second driver and join Max Verstappen again for the 2027 season.
Hadjar, 21, had a strong debut campaign with Racing Bulls in 2025, being promoted to Red Bull this season, but has missed three races due to a wrist injury he suffered during the summer break.
The Frenchman is now fit to drive and was confirmed yesterday to be in the Red Bull seat for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix on Saturday.
Hadjar shared he is “really excited to continue” with the team as he prepares for his first race since July.
The 21-year-old said: “I came to this team eight months ago and immediately understood the scale and ambition of this organisation.
“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.
“From the moment I signed, I set out to dedicate myself to the team, and with the support of [Red Bull team principal] Laurent [Mekies] 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.”
Red Bull have confirmed Isack Hadjar as their second driver for the 2027 season
|
GETTY
Mekies praised the youngster, saying the team is “very excited to continue our journey with Isack”.
He said: “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 One season, which made extending his contract an easy decision.
“From the very beginning, Isack immersed himself in the team, 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.
Hadjar shared he is ‘really excited to continue’ with the team
|
PA“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.
“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.”
The second Red Bull seat has been tenuous and often regarded as the toughest on the grid.
Numerous drivers, including Alex Albon, Pierre Gasly, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda, have all struggled to compete with the Dutchman.
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has been full of praise for the Frenchman
|
REUTERSAlbon previously partly attributed this to Verstappen’s intense driving style, describing it as “unique” and “not easy to get along with”.
He told the High Performance Podcast: “Everyone has a driving style, I would say my driving style is a bit more on the smooth side, but I like a car that has a good front-end, so quite sharp, quite direct.
“Max does too, but his level of sharp and direct is a whole different level – it’s eye-wateringly sharp.”
Last month, the Dutchman ended speculation surrounding his future by putting pen to paper on a four-year deal with Red Bull.
