Red Bull RB22 debuts in Barcelona with Hadjar at the wheel
Red Bull Racing began its 2026 pre-season testing in Barcelona with the official track debut of the RB22. Isack Hadjar drove the car in the morning session, topping the timesheets on a damp track as the team skipped a private shakedown to begin running immediately.
Red Bull Racing has officially launched its 2026 campaign with the on-track debut of the RB22 at the Barcelona pre-season test. Isack Hadjar took the helm for the morning session, marking his first laps with the team and the car's first appearance following the livery reveal at Ford's Detroit headquarters.
Why it matters:
The immediate transition from the livery launch to track action underscores Red Bull's urgency to adapt to the new regulations. With the 2026 ruleset shaking up the competitive order, maximizing track time is essential. Integrating Hadjar into the team early allows the engineers to gather driver feedback and correlate simulation data with real-world performance immediately.
The details:
- Debut Approach: Unlike their sister team Racing Bulls, who conducted a shakedown at Imola, Red Bull opted to debut the RB22 directly at the official test in Barcelona.
- Morning Session: Hadjar topped the timesheets in the morning, though damp track conditions and the absence of meaningful benchmarks mean the lap times should be taken with a grain of salt.
- Testing Schedule: The test day is split into two four-hour sessions (09:00–13:00 and 14:00–18:00 CET). Teams are restricted to running on only three of the five scheduled days, requiring efficient program management.
- Car Reveal: The car sported its final bodywork for the first time, completing the visual package that started with the livery launch in mid-January.
Looking Ahead:
As the test progresses, the focus will shift from system checks to performance evaluation. Red Bull will aim to complete their planned program within the three-day limit to ensure the RB22 is fully prepared for the season opener.