Red Bull announced on Wednesday that Hadjar will keep the second seat for 2027, timing the news to the eve of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix and his own return to the cockpit after a summer-break wrist fracture.
Liam Lawson stood in during the three rounds Hadjar missed. The extension arrives before the Frenchman is even back behind the wheel this weekend.
Second-year composure convinced Red Bull
Team principal Laurent Mekies framed the extension as an obvious next step.
“Since joining us at the start of the year, he has been superb on and off track, especially considering this is only his second Formula 1 season, which made extending his contract an easy decision,” Mekies said.
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Mekies pointed back to Hadjar’s opening weekend for the senior team.
“You could see from that first weekend in Melbourne that he handled the step up with remarkable composure and had earned his place in this seat,” he added.
Hadjar himself echoed the sentiment.
“I am really excited to continue with Oracle Red Bull Racing. I came to this team eight months ago and immediately understood the scale and ambition of this organisation,” he said.
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“There are so many talented people at the factory, and you’re aware of the privilege of driving for such an incredible team alongside a four-time world champion like Max,” Hadjar added.
From Melbourne debut to Monaco podium
Hadjar arrived at Red Bull for the 2026 season after a rookie year at sister squad Racing Bulls, taking the seat Yuki Tsunoda had held in 2025. He qualified third at the Australian Grand Prix on debut for the senior team.
He has collected 71 points across 11 rounds and sits eighth in the drivers’ championship. His third place at Monaco is the standout result. Verstappen, over the same 11 rounds, has 145 points.
The wrist fracture followed during summer-break training and cost him three rounds at Zandvoort, Monza and Madrid.
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Red Bull’s decision leaves Racing Bulls, where Lawson and rookie Arvid Lindblad are paired this season, still to name their 2027 drivers.
Hadjar is due back in the car at the Baku City Circuit on Friday, when first practice for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix opens the weekend.
