Team principal Lauret Mekies said the extension was “an easy decision” because Hadjar has been “superb on and off track” since joining the squad at the start of the year, adding that the young driver “immersed himself in the team, spending every minute at the factory with his engineers to develop the car.”
Hadjar stepped up to Red Bull for the 2026 season after an impressive debut campaign with Racing Bulls in 2025, marking his second year in Formula 1 and quickly establishing himself as a viable partner for four‑time world champion Max Verstappen.
A wrist injury sustained during last month’s summer break forced Hadjar to miss the final three rounds of the 2026 campaign, but he is set to return to the grid at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku, which takes place on Saturday.
The contract renewal secures continuity for Red Bull’s driver line‑up as the team pursues further championship success, with Mekies noting that the extension reflects the organisation’s belief in Hadjar’s development potential and his role in the car’s ongoing evolution.
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix, part of a triple‑header weekend, will see practice sessions on Friday, qualifying on Saturday morning and the race at midday, with the event scheduled on a Saturday for the first time in the 2026 calendar.