RB22 Debuts in Barcelona with Hadjar at the Wheel

The RB22 has officially taken to the track for the first time during pre-season testing in Barcelona, with Isack Hadjar handling driving duties in the morning session. Red Bull Racing opted to debut their 2026 contender directly at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya rather than conducting a private shakedown, unlike their sister team, Racing Bulls. Despite damp conditions limiting meaningful data analysis, Hadjar set the pace early on as the Milton Keynes outfit began its on-track evaluation.

Why it matters:

This marks the beginning of a crucial chapter for Red Bull Racing as they integrate Isack Hadjar into the lineup alongside Max Verstappen for the 2026 season. With the new regulations shaking up the competitive order, getting immediate track time and reliability data is vital for the team to maintain their dominance against rivals like Ferrari and Mercedes.

The details:

• Debut Strategy: Unlike Racing Bulls, who completed a shakedown at Imola recently, Red Bull chose to debut the RB22's final bodywork directly in Barcelona, becoming one of seven teams active on the opening day.
• Morning Session: Hadjar completed the installation laps and early running, ending the session at the top of the timing sheets.
• Track Conditions: A slightly damp surface meant that lap times were not representative of true performance, rendering the benchmarks largely irrelevant for now.
• Test Schedule: The Barcelona test features two four-hour sessions per day. Teams are permitted to run on three of the five scheduled days, allowing Red Bull to manage their program efficiently.

What's next:

The team will continue to analyze data from the RB22's initial systems check over the coming days. With several teams, including Red Bull, skipping portions of the test week, the focus remains on maximizing quality mileage and preparing for the season opener.