Hadjar reflects on 'unfortunate' Barcelona test crash with new Red Bull car

Red Bull junior driver Isack Hadjar described his crash during pre-season testing in Barcelona as "unfortunate" and "not ideal" for the team, but leaves the week with positive first impressions of the 2026-generation Formula 1 car. The Frenchman topped the timesheets on his first day before the incident, which did not ultimately disrupt the team's testing program.

Why it matters:

For a young driver like Hadjar, any significant running in a current F1 car is a critical opportunity to learn and impress. While a crash is a setback, his overall performance and feedback on the new car's characteristics are valuable data points for Red Bull as they evaluate their talent pipeline and develop the new-spec machinery.

The details:

• Hadjar's crash occurred on his second day of testing, in tricky conditions just after switching from wet to intermediate tires in the final corner.
• Despite the incident, Red Bull completed its planned program after repairs, with Max Verstappen running on the final day.
• Team Principal Laurent Mekies played down the crash, calling it "part of the game" in very tricky conditions and noting the team had a lot of work to do on many aspects.
• Car Feedback: Hadjar provided key initial feedback on the 2026 car, describing it as having "a lot less load in general" and being "more predictable" and "straightforward" than the previous generation.
• Driver Adjustments: He noted the power unit offers "a lot more options for the driver to play with," making it easier to adapt and explore setup.

What's next:

Hadjar states the team is "definitely not done with the work yet" and that he is "learning every day." His focus is on carrying the preparation from this test into a strong start to the season. For Red Bull, the data gathered from his running, both in performance and the car's limits, will feed into the ongoing development of their 2026 package.