Red Bull’s Hadjar Sets Pace on Opening Day of Private 2026 Test

Isack Hadjar put Red Bull at the top of the timesheets on the opening day of Formula 1’s private 2026 test in Barcelona. Driving the RB22 equipped with a new Ford power unit, the Frenchman set a benchmark time of 1m18.159s, finishing over half a second clear of Mercedes in a session focused on gathering early data for the new regulations era.

Why it matters:

This private test offers the first genuine glimpse into the competitive order for the 2026 season and the effectiveness of new power unit partnerships. Red Bull’s early pace with its Ford-developed engine sends an immediate statement of intent, while the significant struggles of new entrants Audi and Cadillac highlight the immense challenge facing the grid's expanding lineup.

The details:

• Red Bull Performance: Hadjar’s quickest time was set on the C3 soft tyre, utilizing the team’s new bespoke engine developed with Ford. The pace was impressive, though the overall lap time was over four seconds slower than last year's Spanish Grand Prix practice due to the nature of the testing conditions.
• Mercedes Strong: The Silver Arrows were Red Bull's closest rivals, with Kimi Antonelli running in the morning and George Russell taking over in the afternoon. Russell ended the day second, 0.537s off the pace.
• Mileage Leader: Esteban Ocon had a productive day in the Haas, clocking 154 laps—the highest of any driver. This reliability contrasted sharply with the newcomers.
• Newcomer Struggles: It was a baptism of fire for Audi and Cadillac. Gabriel Bortoleto’s Audi caused an early red flag and seemingly did not return, while Cadillac managed limited mileage with Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez, who barely reached double-digit lap counts due to reported issues.

What's next:

Ferrari is set to join the test on Tuesday, with McLaren expected to begin its program either Tuesday or Wednesday. Aston Martin will wait until Thursday, while Williams has opted to skip the test entirely.