Verstappen: Hadjar's Red Bull extension for 2027 'made perfect sense'

Max Verstappen says Red Bull's decision to keep Isack Hadjar for 2027 "made perfect sense," praising the continuity as the Frenchman returns from a wrist injury at this weekend's Azerbaijan Grand Prix.

Why it matters:

Hadjar's extension secures stability in Red Bull's driver lineup amid a challenging 2026 campaign. With Verstappen still chasing his first win under the new regulations and the team trailing Mercedes and McLaren on pace, retaining the developing Frenchman gives Red Bull a settled foundation to build around.

The details:

• Red Bull confirmed Hadjar would remain for another season ahead of Baku, having been promoted this term after a strong rookie campaign with Racing Bulls.
• Hadjar missed the last three races due to a wrist injury but returns to action this weekend.
• Verstappen: "I get on very well with him, it's good that we have that continuation and we can just focus on the races ahead."
• He also welcomed Hadjar's return, saying Racing Bulls can "go back to their normal structure and focus on their job."

The big picture:

Verstappen has reached the podium at four of the last five Grands Prix but admits Red Bull are still only the fourth-fastest team on race pace. Strong strategy and first-lap positioning have maximized results, yet the car "is not fast enough" overall.

What's next:

The two-time Baku winner expects another podium fight this weekend. "I hope we can be in that mix," he said. "Of course I want to win instead of joining in on the podium celebrations. Hopefully we can still win one race this year but I know it's tough."