Hadjar extended at Red Bull: the cursed seat finally has an owner for 2027

The most exposed seat on the grid

It's worth remembering what this seat stands for. Since 2019, Red Bull's second car has worn down Pierre Gasly, Alexander Albon, Sergio Pérez, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda. All of them eventually buckled, either under the direct comparison with Verstappen or in a car built around him. Promoted from Racing Bulls at the start of the season, Hadjar arrived as a gamble rather than a sure thing.

The gamble paid off from Australia onwards: third in qualifying on his first outing for Milton Keynes. Then came a podium in Monaco, where mistakes are never forgiven, and a run of seven consecutive top-six finishes. No isolated flashes of brilliance, but a consistency his predecessors rarely found.

An injury that changed nothing

The only setback of his season didn't happen on track. After injuring his wrist during a boxing session, Hadjar had to sit out Zandvoort, Monza and Madrid. Liam Lawson stepped in and did a solid job, seventh in the Netherlands and sixth in Spain, a reminder that he remains a credible option within the Red Bull family.

Yet the team never let any doubt creep in. In recent weeks, Laurent Mekies kept saying that everyone could see the excellent job the Frenchman was doing. In the announcement, the team boss highlights how quickly Hadjar blended into the squad. The driver says he is delighted to carry on and stresses his desire to keep listening and learning. Red Bull confirms he has recovered and will be back in the car in Baku.

The timing is no accident. Announcing the extension before his comeback takes a weight off his shoulders: Hadjar won't have to fight for his future on a street circuit where the slightest brush with a wall is punished instantly.

A domino effect at Racing Bulls

With Verstappen committed until 2030, the senior team's 2027 line-up is now settled. The spotlight shifts to the sister team. Lawson and Arvid Lindblad hold both seats there, but Nikola Tsolov is pushing hard: the Bulgarian leads the Formula 2 championship on 177 points with three rounds to go, and Alan Permane describes him as next in line.

The most likely scenario is still the status quo, with Tsolov in a reserve role. An F2 title could force the junior programme's hand, though, and Lawson knows it: his strong stand-in performances could hardly have come at a better time.

Now comes the part that matters most for Hadjar: finding his rhythm again after three races out, on one of the trickiest tracks on the calendar and with strong winds forecast for the weekend. The contract is signed. From Saturday, it's up to him to show Red Bull was right not to wait.