Hadjar Sets His Sights on the 2027 Title Fight After Impressive First Season at Red Bull
Isack Hadjar is already looking beyond his first full season with Red Bull, with the young Frenchman setting his ambitions high ahead of the 2027 Formula 1 campaign.
Hadjar has impressed since stepping up to Red Bull in 2026, particularly given the pressure that comes with sharing a garage with four-time World Champion Max Verstappen. His performances have convinced the team to extend his stay alongside Verstappen for another season.
Red Bull confirmed in September that Hadjar would remain with the team for 2027, rewarding a campaign in which he has steadily developed both his speed and racecraft. Team principal Laurent Mekies said the decision was an easy one after seeing Hadjar make progress almost every race weekend.
The Frenchman’s first season at the senior Red Bull team has not been without difficulties. He missed three consecutive Grands Prix after suffering a wrist injury, but returned strongly in Azerbaijan and immediately demonstrated that the time away had not affected his competitiveness.
His podium in Monaco had already provided one of the highlights of his season. He then produced another impressive performance on his return in Baku, where he finished on the podium after recovering from his time on the sidelines.
Hadjar has also shown that he is becoming increasingly comfortable racing alongside Verstappen. The Dutchman has backed Red Bull’s decision to retain his team-mate, describing the continuation of their partnership as a positive development for the team.
The challenge for Hadjar now is to turn strong individual performances into a genuine championship campaign.
Red Bull have struggled to produce a car capable of consistently dominating the 2026 season, with the team still working to close the final gap to its rivals. Mekies acknowledged that Red Bull had been close to the front but still needed further development to produce the fastest car on a consistent basis.
Hadjar himself appears to understand that becoming a title contender will require more than raw speed. He has identified areas such as race starts, tyre management and qualifying execution as aspects where he can continue improving.
With another full season at Red Bull now secured, the 2027 campaign could give Hadjar the stability and experience needed to take another major step forward.
The presence of Verstappen will remain a huge benchmark, but it could also provide Hadjar with an opportunity to learn from one of the most successful drivers of the modern era.
For Red Bull, having two competitive drivers could be crucial if the team succeeds in developing a car capable of fighting for victories on a regular basis.
Hadjar’s ambitions are therefore becoming increasingly clear. His first season has established him as a serious Red Bull driver, but the next step will be much bigger: consistently fighting at the front, challenging for race wins and, ultimately, putting himself in the conversation for the 2027 Formula 1 World Championship.
If his current trajectory continues, Hadjar may enter 2027 not simply as Verstappen’s team-mate, but as a genuine championship contender.

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