Isack Hadjar: Red Bull Contract Length Does Not Matter to Him

Isack Hadjar returns to Formula 1 in Baku after his wrist injury, while the Red Bull driver says he does not even know how long his new contract runs.

Hadjar returns to Formula 1 in Baku

Isack Hadjar is back in the Red Bull Formula 1 cockpit for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

The French driver missed the last three rounds after suffering a small fracture to the outside of his wrist during the summer break. He has now completed his rehabilitation and has been cleared to return alongside Max Verstappen in Baku.

Hadjar has not raced since the Hungarian Grand Prix in July. His return comes after almost six weeks away from the cockpit.

He said the wrist is strong enough to handle the forces involved in Formula 1. However, he also acknowledged that the injury will remain painful for some time.

Isack Hadjar returns to the Red Bull cockpit at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix after missing three races with a wrist injury.

Hadjar said he completed a simulator test before his return. The session went well and gave him greater confidence that the wrist could cope with the demands of the real car.

His training routine was much more difficult during the recovery.

The injury limited what he could do with his left arm. Hadjar described that period as frustrating because he was unable to train normally.

Hadjar was advised not to race

The Red Bull driver also revealed a conversation with MotoGP star Marc Márquez after the injury.

Asked what Márquez told him, Hadjar gave a simple answer: he advised him not to race.

Hadjar eventually followed the medical and rehabilitation process instead. Red Bull confirmed that he would return only after recovering sufficiently from the wrist fracture.

The decision kept Liam Lawson in the Red Bull seat for Zandvoort, Monza and Madrid. Yuki Tsunoda also moved back into Racing Bulls during that period.

Hadjar’s last Grand Prix appearance came in Hungary before the wrist injury ruled him out of the next three rounds.

The timing of his return is important for Red Bull.

Hadjar had produced a strong run before the injury. Formula 1 says he recorded seven consecutive top-six finishes between Miami and Hungary, including a podium in Monaco.

That form also played a role in his contract extension.

Red Bull confirms Hadjar for 2027

Red Bull confirmed on September 23, 2026 that Hadjar will remain with the team for the 2027 Formula 1 season.

He will continue to partner Verstappen, giving Red Bull continuity in its driver lineup for next year.

The announcement came on the same day as Hadjar’s comments in Baku.

The 21-year-old explained that he did not negotiate the details himself. He said he left those discussions to his representatives and focused on performing on track.

His message was simple: “If you’re good, you stay, and that’s it.”

Hadjar will continue alongside Max Verstappen after Red Bull confirmed his contract extension for the 2027 season.

Interestingly, Hadjar admitted that he does not know the exact length of his contract beyond the confirmed 2027 commitment.

Rather than focusing on the paperwork, he prefers to concentrate on his performance. Red Bull’s official announcement confirms that he has committed to an extended contract for next season.

Team principal Laurent Mekies also explained why the decision was straightforward.

He pointed to Hadjar’s performances, his development work with engineers and the progress he made after stepping up to the senior Red Bull team.

Hadjar has no specific target for his return

The driver is also avoiding a specific result target for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Instead, he wants to return to the battle and compete with the drivers immediately ahead of him. The priority is to regain his rhythm after such a long period away from racing.

That task will not be simple.

Baku is a demanding street circuit, with long straights, heavy braking zones and narrow sections through the old city. Red Bull describes it as one of the toughest street tracks on the calendar.

For Hadjar, the biggest challenge may simply be getting comfortable again.

He has already tested himself in the simulator. Now he must find out how the wrist responds to the real forces of an F1 car over a full weekend.

Red Bull now has its 2027 lineup confirmed

With Hadjar’s extension completed, Red Bull’s 2027 driver pairing is settled.

Verstappen already has a contract through 2030. Hadjar’s extension means the team can now focus on developing both drivers and its wider 2027 project without a change in its senior lineup.

For Hadjar, the immediate priority is different.

He wants to put the injury behind him and return to the level of performance he showed before the setback.

The Isack Hadjar Red Bull return therefore begins in Baku with two important developments at once: he is back in the car after three missed races, and he has secured his place alongside Verstappen for the 2027 season.