Max Verstappen has extended his contract with Red Bull Racing through the end of 2030. The two-year extension was announced in August and ensures that Verstappen will remain with the team for at least four more seasons. His previous contract had run through 2028.
Red Bull has now announced who will be Verstappen's teammate in 2027. Isack Hadjar has signed a contract extension that will keep him alongside Verstappen for another season. Red Bull announced the decision on September 23 ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Hadjar is already Verstappen's teammate during the 2026 season. The 21-year-old French driver moved to Red Bull after spending his rookie Formula One season with Racing Bulls in 2025.
Hadjar had been part of the Red Bull Junior Team since 2022. He competed in Formula 3 and Formula 2 before earning his Formula One opportunity with Racing Bulls.
His rookie season included a podium at Zandvoort. That performance helped Hadjar earn a promotion to the main Red Bull team for 2026.
Hadjar has continued to impress during his second Formula One season. He has recorded consistent points finishes and reached the podium at the Monaco Grand Prix.
Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies said Hadjar's performance made extending his contract an easy decision. The team has been pleased with his work both on and off the track.
The announcement also comes as Hadjar prepares to return to competition. A wrist injury forced him to miss the Dutch, Italian and Spanish Grands Prix. Liam Lawson temporarily took his place and scored points in two of those three races. Hadjar is expected back in the car for the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Verstappen also welcomed Red Bull's decision to keep Hadjar. He said the move made sense and that he gets along well with his teammate. Verstappen said keeping the same pairing gives the team continuity as it works toward next season.
Verstappen has been a key figure for Red Bull since joining the team in 2016. He was promoted from Toro Rosso during the 2016 season and won his first race for Red Bull at the Spanish Grand Prix.
He went on to win four consecutive Drivers' Championships between 2021 and 2024. When Red Bull announced his new contract in August it said Verstappen had earned 71 victories for the team.
The team’s decision to keep him through 2030 shows its commitment to building around its longtime lead driver. Red Bull has also been investing heavily in its technical development for the future of Formula One.
The 2026 season has presented new challenges. Formula One introduced major chassis and power-unit regulations this year. Red Bull is also competing with its own Red Bull Ford Powertrains power unit under the new regulations.
The changes have come as Red Bull attempts to regain the dominant form that helped Verstappen win his four championships. The team sits fourth in the 2026 Constructors' Championship with 230 points ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix.
Red Bull is also making changes away from the cockpit. Experienced engineer Tom McCullough will join the team in 2027 as Head of Racing after a long period with Aston Martin and its previous Formula One operations.
With Verstappen and Hadjar now under contract, Red Bull does not have to spend the rest of the season deciding who will drive its two cars next year.
Hadjar will face the challenge of competing alongside one of Formula One's most successful active drivers. However, his performance during his first season with the senior Red Bull team appears to have convinced team officials that he deserves another year.
Red Bull's decision also brings some stability after several years of changes in the team's second car. Sergio Perez drove alongside Verstappen from 2021 through 2024. Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda then occupied the seat during 2025 before Hadjar was promoted for 2026.
Red Bull will now enter the 2027 season with the same driver pairing it has in 2026. Verstappen is under contract through 2030 while Hadjar is confirmed through at least the end of next season.
The team’s focus remains on building a strong lineup for the future of Formula One racing.