Red Bull's new driver Isack Hadjar crashed during a wet session at the Barcelona Formula 1 shakedown, attributing the incident to switching tyre compounds. The accident caused significant damage to the RB22 car, but the team recovered to complete further testing. Team principal Laurent Mekies praised the mechanics' efforts and highlighted the learning opportunities gained.
The Barcelona Formula 1 shakedown provided Red Bull with valuable insights into their 2026 car, the RB22, despite a setback on Tuesday when rookie driver Isack Hadjar spun off at the final corner of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.
Hadjar, promoted to the senior team after just one F1 season, replacing Yuki Tsunoda, enjoyed a productive Monday, completing 158 laps with only minor issues. 'It was nice to have a good day on Monday,' Hadjar said. 'It was very productive and we managed to do a lot more laps than we had expected, everything went pretty smooth and we had only minor issues. It was quite impressive considering it was our first day with our own power unit.'
Rain arrived on Tuesday morning, limiting Max Verstappen to one long run before the team switched to Hadjar in the afternoon. With no chance for dry tyres, they tested in wet conditions using the new generation car. Hadjar explained the crash: 'Unfortunately, on Tuesday, just after switching from wets to inters, I lost control of the car in the final corner and I know the aftermath wasn’t ideal for the team.' The incident resulted in heavy rear-end damage, requiring replacement parts to ensure the team could fulfill its three-day allocation.
Despite the off, Hadjar remained optimistic. 'The positive is that I have already started to understand and work on things in the car,' he noted, adding that the 2026 cars feel 'a bit more predictable compared to the previous generation' with more driver options on the power unit.
Red Bull's mechanics worked tirelessly to repair the car overnight, allowing Verstappen to return on Friday for 118 laps, bringing the team's total to 303. Mekies backed Hadjar fully: 'We got more than a hundred laps in on Monday with Isack, which was a positive day... The number of laps Isack completed and the development and learning he and the team gained cannot be underestimated.' He also commended the team's efforts and thanked Ford for their support on the new Red Bull Powertrains engine: 'It was an incredible job by the team trackside and back on campus to get RB22 back on track for Friday.'
The shakedown underscored the challenges ahead, but Mekies emphasized steady progress: 'We have a lot to take away from this week... We know we have to do our homework and take things step by step.'
