Isack Hadjar explains cause of Red Bull shakedown crash in Barcelona

Red Bull's new driver Isack Hadjar crashed during a wet-weather run at the F1 shakedown in Barcelona, forcing the team into a rapid repair job to salvage its final day of permitted running. The incident occurred as he switched tire compounds, but the team recovered to complete valuable mileage with Max Verstappen later in the week.

Why it matters:

Shakedown tests are a critical, limited opportunity for teams to gather initial data on their new cars and power units before pre-season testing. Any crash consumes precious track time and resources. For Hadjar, a rookie stepping up to the senior Red Bull team, the pressure to perform and learn without major errors is immense, making this a significant early setback in his acclimatization.

The details:

• The crash happened on Tuesday at the final corner of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Hadjar lost control shortly after switching from full wet tires to intermediates on a rain-soaked track.
• The RB22 sustained heavy rear-end damage, requiring the team to bring in replacement parts. This jeopardized the team's third and final day of running allowed under the shakedown rules.
• Through significant effort, Red Bull's mechanics repaired the car in time for Friday's session. Max Verstappen then completed 118 laps, bringing the team's total for the three-day shakedown to 303 laps.
• Team Principal Laurent Mekies defended his driver, calling the conditions "very tricky" and stating the crash came after a positive first day. He emphasized the learning value for both Hadjar and the team.
• Hadjar noted the 2026-generation car feels different, with less overall downforce but more predictability and driver-adjustable power unit options compared to previous cars.

What's next:

The team will now analyze all data collected, including the wet-weather running, as preparations intensify for the official pre-season test in Bahrain. For Hadjar, the focus shifts to putting the incident behind him and converting the shakedown learnings into a strong start to his first full season with Red Bull Racing. The repaired RB22 and its new Red Bull Powertrains engine face their next major test in Bahrain.