Red Bull keep Hadjar alongside Verstappen for 2027
Isack Hadjar will stay at Red Bull as Max Verstappen's teammate for the 2027 Formula 1 season.
The confirmation, reported on 23 September 2026, settles the second seat at Milton Keynes for next year and keeps the current pairing together for a second season BBC Sport. Team principal Laurent Mekies leads a team that has opted for continuity.
Hadjar was promoted to the senior team this season after a rookie year with Racing Bulls. It is a jump that has broken many drivers. The second Red Bull seat has a reputation as the hardest job in the pit lane, up against a four-time world champion in the same machinery.
On pace, Hadjar has held up better than most. He has been closer to Verstappen than any Red Bull teammate since Daniel Ricciardo in 2018. His best result this season was third place at the Monaco Grand Prix.
The numbers tell the story. Over the first half of the season, Hadjar was on average 0.239 seconds slower than Verstappen in qualifying, the timed session that sets the starting grid. He out-qualified Verstappen three times, in Australia, Japan and Britain.
Hadjar has missed the past three races with a broken wrist. He sustained the injury while boxing as part of his training programme. He is set to return for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, scheduled for 24-26 September 2026 at the Baku City Circuit Red Bull Racing.
Verstappen's own future is already locked in. He signed a two-year contract extension in August, with his deal now running to the end of 2030.
What makes this stand out is how rare stability has been beside Verstappen. For fans, this means a proper second-season test. No excuses about learning the team. Just two drivers, same car, and a full year to measure the gap.
