Red Bull extends Hadjar's contract to keep him alongside Verstappen in 2027

Red Bull confirmed on 23 September that Isack Hadjar will continue alongside four-time world champion Max Verstappen into the 2027 Formula 1 season, extending the 21-year-old’s contract ahead of his comeback at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Hadjar missed three consecutive race weekends during the second half of the season after sustaining a wrist injury during the summer break. Despite the absence, he sits eighth in the drivers’ standings with 71 points — a tally that has evidently satisfied Red Bull’s hierarchy. Verstappen is sixth on 145 points.

The extension draws a line under a turbulent period in Red Bull’s second seat. Sergio Perez was replaced by Liam Lawson for 2025, only for Lawson himself to be dropped after just two race weekends in favour of Yuki Tsunoda. Hadjar had spent his 2025 rookie campaign at sister outfit Racing Bulls, finishing 12th in the championship, before stepping up to the senior team in 2026.

Fan reaction on Reddit was largely positive. “Wasn’t expecting an announcement this early, but well deserved, Hadjar! He’s been the only driver in that second seat to consistently score points since Perez,” one user wrote. Another added: “Hadjar getting podiums on both the sister team and the main team in two years is proof enough that he deserves to stay at a top team like RBR.”

Not every comment was unconditional. “To be fair, they probably don’t have any better options at the moment anyway, and that’s not meant as a slight on Hadjar,” one fan noted. “He’s done a decent job so far, hopefully he can carry on as he left and his injury doesn’t cause too many issues. I do wonder if a bumpy street track is the ideal place for a comeback.”

Lawson, who stepped in during Hadjar’s absence, also attracted sympathy. “Racing Bulls should keep Lawson as well — he’s doing well and this short RBR stint wasn’t bad either,” a further comment read.

The Azerbaijan Grand Prix marks Hadjar’s scheduled return to the cockpit, with Red Bull now publicly committed to him as their long-term answer to the question that has dogged the team since Perez’s departure.