Red Bull Locks In Isack Hadjar Alongside Max Verstappen for 2027
Oracle Red Bull Racing has officially confirmed a contract extension for Isack Hadjar, securing the 21-year-old Frenchman alongside Max Verstappen for the 2027 Formula 1 season.
The announcement, released by the team ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, ends weeks of speculation surrounding the Milton Keynes squad's future driver lineup. It coincides directly with Hadjar’s competitive return to the cockpit this weekend in Baku following a three-race layoff due to a fractured wrist.
Return to the Cockpit and Driver Roster Shifts
Hadjar was sidelined for three consecutive rounds after sustaining a wrist fracture, forcing Red Bull to activate interim solutions during a demanding European stretch. With Hadjar now medically cleared to resume driving duties, the Red Bull driver pool immediately snaps back to its primary operational framework:
- Isack Hadjar resumes his full-time race seat in car #6 at Red Bull Racing alongside Max Verstappen for the remainder of 2026 and the entire 2027 season.
- Liam Lawson, who filled in at the senior team during Hadjar’s three-race recovery window, vacates the interim Red Bull Racing cockpit and returns to Racing Bulls.
- Racing Bulls restores its regular driver pairing, with Lawson reuniting alongside rookie Arvid Lindblad starting at this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
The contract extension provides unequivocal backing to Hadjar, who stepped up to the senior team for 2026 and quickly demonstrated strong baseline speed before his injury interruption.
Championship Context and Rebuilding Momentum
Hadjar’s return comes at a critical juncture for Red Bull Racing as the 2026 season enters its final stretch following Round 14.
Despite missing three full race weekends, Hadjar currently holds eighth place in the Drivers' Championship with 71 points. Verstappen occupies sixth with 145 points. In the Constructors' Championship, Red Bull sits fourth overall on 230 points, trailing leaders Mercedes (503 points), Ferrari (358 points), and McLaren (306 points). Meanwhile, Lawson's efforts across both squads have accrued 59 points, lifting Racing Bulls to fifth in the standings on 77 points.
With Mercedes asserting commanding form this year via championship leader Andrea Kimi Antonelli and George Russell, Red Bull’s leadership has moved early to lock in structural stability rather than prolonging a mid-season audition process. Retaining Hadjar ensures continuity alongside Verstappen as the team shifts technical focus toward the 2027 regulations and race format adjustments.
What Happens Next
The immediate focus moves to the Baku City Circuit for Round 15 of the 2026 championship.
Hadjar faces a demanding return to action on one of the fastest and least forgiving street circuits on the Formula 1 calendar. Free Practice 1 in Baku will mark his first official session in the car since his injury, providing the initial baseline read on his physical match fitness and steering load tolerances over Azerbaijan's bumpy high-speed sections.
Concurrently, Lawson settles back into the Racing Bulls garage alongside Lindblad, seeking to protect the sister team’s fifth-place constructor standing against an advancing Alpine squad.
To see how Hadjar’s comeback and the reshuffled Red Bull grid impact the competitive order in Baku, check out our latest race predictions.
