Isack Hadjar Breaks Silence on Costly Barcelona Crash as Red Bull Push On with 2026 Preparations
Max Verstappen’s new Red Bull team-mate, Isack Hadjar, has spoken publicly for the first time about his dramatic crash during Formula 1’s five-day Barcelona shakedown, an incident that quickly became one of the biggest talking points of the test.
The 2025 rookie endured a mixed introduction to life at Red Bull, after a late crash on Tuesday caused extensive damage to the RB22. The impact with the barriers reportedly resulted in repair costs of around $514,000, forcing the Milton Keynes-based team into an unexpected pause in their running as they waited for replacement parts.
With spare components unavailable on site, Red Bull opted to sit out Wednesday and Thursday’s running entirely. At that stage, Verstappen himself had completed just 27 laps in the all-new 2026 car, limiting the team’s early data collection during a crucial phase of development.
However, once replacement parts arrived from the team’s UK factory, Red Bull returned to action on Friday. By the end of the shakedown, Hadjar and Verstappen had collectively completed 303 laps, salvaging valuable mileage and allowing the team to continue its assessment of both the new chassis and power unit.
Hadjar reflects on a “mixed” debut
In Red Bull’s official Barcelona debrief released after the final day, Hadjar offered an honest assessment of his first test with the team. He began by highlighting the positives of his opening day behind the wheel.
“Monday was a really good start for us,” Hadjar explained. “It was very productive, and we completed more laps than we had expected. Everything went quite smoothly, with only small issues here and there. Considering it was our first proper day running our own power unit, it was pretty impressive.”
The French-Algerian driver then addressed the moment that overshadowed his week — the crash that ended Tuesday’s session prematurely.
“Unfortunately, on Tuesday, just after switching from wet tyres to intermediates, I lost control of the car in the final corner,” Hadjar admitted. “I know the consequences of that weren’t ideal for the team.”
Despite the setback, Hadjar stressed that the experience has already helped him better understand the demands of the new generation of Formula 1 machinery.
“The positive side is that I’m already learning how the car behaves and what we can work on,” he said. “There are still many things to adjust, but overall the progress has been steady.”
Adapting to the 2026 regulations
Hadjar also provided insight into how the 2026 cars compare to the previous generation, describing a notable shift in balance and drivability.
“These cars are very different,” he explained. “There’s less overall aerodynamic load, but they feel more predictable. They’re more straightforward to drive, and that makes it easier to experiment with set-ups.”
He also highlighted the expanded role drivers now play in managing the power unit.
“From the power unit side, there are many more options available for the driver to adjust during a run,” Hadjar added. “That gives you more control, but also more to think about.”
Despite the crash, Hadjar remains optimistic about his preparation ahead of the 2026 season.
“I couldn’t have prepared any better for this year,” he said. “I’m confident I can start the season strongly, but there’s still plenty of work to do. I’m learning something new every day.”
Verstappen praises emotional milestone for Red Bull
Four-time world champion Max Verstappen also reflected on the shakedown, placing particular emphasis on the significance of Red Bull’s new in-house power unit, the DM01, named in honour of the late Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz.
“It was great to be back in the car,” Verstappen said. “The first morning was tricky because of the weather, so I didn’t get many laps in, but Friday went really well.”
The Dutchman highlighted the importance of mileage as Red Bull enters uncharted territory as a full power unit manufacturer.
“We completed a lot of laps on Friday, and that was the key,” he explained. “We learned a lot, and of course there are still areas we want to investigate, but it was a good start.”
Verstappen also revealed that the debut of the DM01 was an emotional moment for the team.
“So much work has gone into this engine over the last few years,” he said. “To see it installed in the car and immediately running reliably on the first day was special. There were a lot of emotional faces in the garage.”
Focus now turns to Bahrain
While encouraged by the progress made in Barcelona, Verstappen stressed that Red Bull’s development work is far from complete.
“Everything is still a work in progress,” he said. “Understanding the engine, refining the set-up, and experimenting with different options takes time.”
With pre-season testing in Bahrain next on the calendar, Red Bull will look to build on the foundations laid in Barcelona as they continue preparations for the highly anticipated 2026 Formula 1 season.
