News Summary
- Red Bull has extended Isack Hadjar’s contract through the 2027 Formula 1 season
- The Frenchman will remain alongside Max Verstappen, who is contracted through 2030
- Hadjar earned the renewal after scoring 71 points and finishing within approximately 0.2s of Verstappen in qualifying
Red Bull has confirmed that Isack Hadjar will remain with the team for the 2027 Formula 1 season, completing an unchanged driver pairing alongside Max Verstappen.
The announcement was made ahead of the Azerbaijan GP, where Hadjar will return after missing three consecutive rounds with a fractured wrist. Liam Lawson replaced him at Zandvoort, Monza and Madrid but will now return to Racing Bulls.
Hadjar joined Red Bull’s senior team at the beginning of 2026 and has scored 71 points, placing eighth in the Drivers’ Championship. His results include seven consecutive top-six finishes and a podium at the Monaco GP.
“I am really excited to continue with Oracle Red Bull Racing,” Hadjar said. The Frenchman added that working alongside Verstappen had reinforced his understanding of the team’s scale and ambition.
Team principal Laurent Mekies described the extension as an easy decision after Hadjar impressed both on and off the track during his second Formula 1 season.
The agreement means Red Bull has resolved its driver situation considerably earlier than in several recent seasons. Verstappen is contracted to remain with the team through 2030, while Hadjar now has another full year to develop alongside the four-time world champion.
Hadjar succeeds where other Red Bull drivers struggled
Hadjar’s renewal carries additional weight because of Red Bull’s recent instability in its second car.
Pierre Gasly, Alexander Albon, Sergio Pérez, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda all experienced difficult periods alongside Verstappen. Lawson lasted only two races with the senior team at the beginning of 2025 before being returned to Racing Bulls.
Hadjar has avoided the same fate through a combination of speed, consistency and technical commitment. Formula 1’s official analysis indicates that he has qualified, on average, two positions behind Verstappen and has been slightly more than 0.2s slower over a single lap.
That represents a competitive deficit against a driver who has controlled Red Bull’s internal benchmark for nearly a decade.
Hadjar has also limited the number of weekends in which Red Bull effectively competes with only one car. Before his injury, he had scored in eight of nine races, including a recovery from 21st to sixth at Spa-Francorchamps.
Mekies said Hadjar had immersed himself in the team’s work, spending significant time with engineers at the factory and demonstrating a willingness to understand the RB22 rather than merely adapt his driving around its weaknesses.
The progress confirmed the conclusion reached after Hungary, when Hadjar appeared to have broken Red Bull’s second-seat curse.
Injury did not alter Red Bull’s decision
Hadjar fractured his wrist during boxing training in the summer break and was ruled out of the Dutch, Italian and Spanish Grands Prix.
Red Bull refused to accelerate his recovery despite the approaching contract decision. The team instead gave Lawson three rounds alongside Verstappen while Hadjar underwent rehabilitation and simulator assessments.
Reuters confirmed that Lawson scored points in two of his three appearances, finishing seventh at Zandvoort and sixth in Madrid. Those performances strengthened the New Zealander’s case for a 2027 seat but did not reopen the decision over Hadjar.
Red Bull had already been satisfied with the Frenchman’s progress before the injury. The extension demonstrates that the team evaluated his work across the first half of the season rather than allowing three missed races to change its plans.
Hadjar was cleared to return for the Azerbaijan GP after completing a final simulator assessment and medical evaluation.
What Hadjar’s renewal means for Lawson and Tsunoda
Red Bull’s senior line-up is now closed, leaving Lawson, Tsunoda, Arvid Lindblad and Formula 2 championship leader Nikola Tsolov connected to the remaining Racing Bulls seats.
Lawson’s substitute appearances demonstrated that he remains capable of scoring points with the senior team. However, his immediate route back to Red Bull is blocked unless Verstappen or Hadjar becomes unavailable.
Tsunoda returns to reserve duties after replacing Lawson at Racing Bulls during Hadjar’s absence. Lindblad, meanwhile, has strengthened his position with an encouraging rookie season.
Tsolov is another contender for promotion if Red Bull decides to introduce a new junior in 2027. The Bulgarian leads the F2 championship by 7 points over Rafael Câmara before this weekend’s expanded Baku round.
Red Bull joins Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren in retaining an unchanged driver pairing for 2027. The remaining uncertainty within the organisation is now concentrated at Racing Bulls rather than the senior team.
Hadjar returns to competition when Formula 1 begins Azerbaijan GP practice on Thursday. Qualifying takes place on Friday, followed by the race on Saturday because of Azerbaijan’s Remembrance Day.
F1 today: FAQ
What time is Singapore GP sprint qualifying today?
Sprint qualifying starts at 20:30 Singapore time on Friday, October 9, equivalent to 13:30 BST in the UK, 08:30 ET in the United States and Canada, and 18:00 IST in India. The session determines the starting grid for Saturday’s sprint.
Who was fastest in Singapore GP FP1?
George Russell topped FP1 with a 1:32.274, driving Mercedes’ older W17 aerodynamic specification. Charles Leclerc finished second, 0.198s behind, followed by Lando Norris in third. Kimi Antonelli was seventh with the upgraded Mercedes, while Gabriel Bortoleto finished 16th.
Why is George Russell using the old Mercedes at the Singapore GP?
Mercedes is comparing its previous W17 specification with the aerodynamic upgrade introduced at Sepang. Russell is using the older package, while championship leader Kimi Antonelli retains the new version. Russell led FP1, but differences in tyre compounds and run programmes mean the result alone does not establish which specification is faster.
Who will drive for Red Bull in the 2027 F1 season?
Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar will remain Red Bull’s drivers in 2027. Verstappen is contracted through 2030, while Hadjar has received an extension for next season.
