Red Bull shed light on Hadjar’s new deal after Frenchman stayed tight-lipped

One of the biggest stories of the Baku weekend was not only the Frenchman's return to the car after missing the previous three races, but also, and more importantly, the confirmation that he will remain Max Verstappen's team-mate for next season.

Asked how easy the decision had been to make, Mekies explained that there had been very little doubt within the team. He highlighted the particularly strong start to the season, the natural speed that had been evident from the outset and the way the driver had quickly adapted to his new surroundings after moving to the UK.

He also pointed to the consistent progress made throughout the season, with the team seeing improvements from one race weekend to the next, ultimately making the decision a straightforward one for Red Bull.

Mekies also shed some light on the deal itself, confirming that Red Bull had long-term contractual options on Hadjar through his involvement in the team’s junior programme. The Milton Keynes-based outfit has now exercised those options, securing the Frenchman for the 2027 season.

The Frenchman’s return to the car was therefore far from a straightforward one, with Hadjar facing a series of problems throughout his first practice session back with Red Bull. The issues began early in FP1 when he reported a problem with the brakes, which caused the car to pull heavily to one side and left him dangerously close to the wall.

Things then became even more complicated later in the session, as Hadjar reported that the engine was cutting out and that he had lost fifth gear. Red Bull subsequently instructed him to remain in second gear and bring the RB22 back to the garage, where it stayed for the remainder of the session.