Isack Hadjar and Red Bull sign extension as he returns to second seat at Baku
EDDIE KALEGI - STAFF WRITER
For the first time in three years, it appears Red Bull finally has some stability in its second seat.
The organization announced Wednesday morning that the team has extended Isack Hadjar as Max Verstappen's teammate for the 2027 Formula One season. The decision comes ahead of this weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix, where Hadjar returns from a three-race absence after suffering a wrist injury in training during F1's summer break. It also follows an announcement last month that his four-time World Drivers' Champion teammate will remain with the organization on a long-term extension through at least 2030.
Hadjar became the fourth driver of Red Bull's second entry since just 2024 earlier this season, following a tumultuous string of driver turnover, which included Sergio Perez, Liam Lawson, and Yuki Tsunoda. Lawson briefly returned to the car while Hadjar was sidelined with injury.
The 21 year-old French and Algerian driver was promoted from Racing Bulls after a solid rookie season in 2025, placing 12th in the standings after ten points-paying finishes, most notably scoring a podium in Zandvoort. Despite missing three races, Hadjar still sits eighth in this season's standings, boasting three top fives and a podium at Monaco.
"Since joining us at the start of the year, he has been superb on and off the track, especially considering this is only his second Formula One season, which made extending his contract an easy decision," Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies said. "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."
The Red Bull duo of Verstappen and Hadjar enter Baku slotted fourth in the constructors' standings, sitting 76 points behind McLaren for a podium seat.
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