Red Bull Racing has decided not to run on the third day of pre-season testing in Barcelona following Isack Hadjar's crash on Tuesday. The incident occurred in wet conditions at the Circuit de Catalunya, damaging the new RB22 car. Team principal Laurent Mekies described the setback as unfortunate but part of the testing process.
Isack Hadjar's testing debut for Red Bull took an unexpected turn on the second day of the 2026 Formula 1 pre-season shakedown at Barcelona's Circuit de Catalunya. The 21-year-old French driver, promoted from Racing Bulls after a strong rookie season, crashed the brand-new RB22 into the barriers at Turn 14 late in the afternoon. The track had turned treacherous due to rain, limiting running for most teams, with only Red Bull and Ferrari managing significant laps that day.
Hadjar had enjoyed a productive Monday, completing numerous laps and providing valuable feedback to engineers. However, the Tuesday incident cut his session short, prompting Red Bull to assess the damage and opt out of Wednesday's running. This leaves the team with no further opportunities at this Barcelona test, as regulations allow only three days before the next shakedown in Bahrain next month.
Team principal Laurent Mekies downplayed the crash, stating, “It was a very tricky condition this afternoon, so very unfortunate that it finished that way, but it's part of the game.” He highlighted the positive aspects of the week, noting, “These difficulties came after a very, very positive day yesterday in terms of the number of laps Isack could complete in the car, and in terms of his learning and development and feedback to the engineers.”
Hadjar himself reflected on the situation, saying, “We only have one day left, so we need to make sure we play that card carefully. The priority right now is to assess the damage on the car and see what opportunities that gives us in terms of running over the next days.”
The crash draws parallels to Pierre Gasly's troubled 2019 pre-season with Red Bull, where two Barcelona incidents foreshadowed a difficult season. Yet, circumstances differ: the 2026 regulations introduce major technical changes, the track was wet, and Red Bull's leadership has shifted to the more supportive Mekies. Sources indicate potential parts shortages could complicate repairs, but Mekies emphasized that Hadjar is unharmed and the team remains optimistic about the rookie's adaptation to the RB22.
