That is massive news for the Milton Keynes-based outfit, as Isack Hadjar has officially committed his future to Red Bull with a contract extension keeping him with the squad through the 2027 season. The Frenchman will continue alongside Max Verstappen, locking down the team's lineup well in advance.
His journey to this seat has been quite a rise. Having been linked with Red Bull since joining their Junior Team in 2022, the squad backed his progression through Formula 3 and Formula 2, where he fought out a closely-fought title contest against Audi’s Gabriel Bortoleto. Even though he missed out on the 2024 championship, he stepped up from reserve driver to Racing Bulls for the following year, putting together a stellar rookie campaign featuring his maiden podium in Zandvoort.
From there, he stepped in to replace Yuki Tsunoda at Red Bull and showed significant promise as the team adapted to the new regulations. Consistent points finishes followed, including a second top-three result at the Monaco Grand Prix. Unfortunately, a wrist injury forced him to sit out of the last three rounds, but he is now set to return for this weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix alongside the announcement of his new deal.
“I am really excited to continue with Oracle Red Bull Racing,” said Hadjar. “I came to this team eight months ago and immediately understood the scale and ambition of this organisation. 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 [Verstappen]. From the moment I signed, I set out to dedicate myself to the team, and with the support of Laurent [Mekies] and everyone in Milton Keynes, I’ve been able to justify the faith they’ve had in me. I’m constantly looking to listen, learn and push myself further every single day, which only makes me more excited about what lies ahead.”
Team Principal Mekies was equally enthusiastic about locking down the young charger for the long term. “We’re very excited to continue our journey with Isack,” Mekies added. “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. From the very beginning, Isack immersed himself in the team, spending every minute at the factory with his engineers to develop the car, always eager to learn and improve.
“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. The period since his injury has been a difficult one for Isack, but this extension is a testament to how much we believe in him and we can’t wait to see him back out on track. We still have a lot we want to achieve this season, but it's a great feeling to know that the drivers, engineers and everyone back at the factory are all heading in the same direction, committed and together.”
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