Red Bull analyzing Verstappen and Hadjar issues before Australian GP qualifying

Red Bull is investigating the problems that limited Max Verstappen's running and required a data review for Isack Hadjar's car during Friday practice at the Australian Grand Prix. The team's Head of Racing, Gianpiero Lambiase, emphasized the need for operational improvements to avoid mistakes in the competitive sessions ahead.

Why it matters:

Red Bull has been the dominant force in recent seasons, but small operational issues and car damage can quickly erase a performance advantage on a tight street circuit like Melbourne. Identifying and resolving these problems overnight is critical for securing a strong grid position. Furthermore, the data from rookie Isack Hadjar's car is being scrutinized to aid the setup for Verstappen's championship-leading RB22.

The details:

• Split Strategy & Verstappen's Issues: The team ran opposing setup directions across the two cars in FP2. Verstappen's session was cut short by "various issues," including floor damage from a slide at Turn 10 that sent him through the gravel.
• Overnight Focus: Chief engineer Paul Monaghan confirmed the floor damage would require attention, and Lambiase stated the team must "resolve [the issues] overnight" and address operational procedures to avoid slipping up in qualifying and the race.
• Hadjar's Role: The team is reviewing data from the mechanical setup changes made to Isack Hadjar's car during FP2. Lambiase noted that this analysis would also help inform the setup for Verstappen's car.
• Mixed Friday: The day yielded contrasting results; the team was strong in FP1 but faced challenges in FP2, with Verstappen's damage and Hadjar finishing the session in ninth place.

What's next:

The team's mechanics and engineers face a busy night repairing Verstappen's car and analyzing the data from both sides of the garage. The findings from Hadjar's running will be fed into the simulation work to decide on the final setup for Saturday. All efforts are now focused on delivering a clean, competitive qualifying session to get both cars at the sharp end of the grid for Sunday's race.