Red Bull skip Barcelona test Day 4 due to the…read more
Red Bull Racing’s pre-season testing programme at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya has suffered another setback, with the team confirming it will not run on Day 4 of the private test as it continues to wait for crucial spare parts to arrive at the circuit.
The Milton Keynes-based outfit had initially planned a carefully structured test schedule across the week, but those plans have been disrupted following an incident involving new recruit Isack Hadjar earlier in the test. As a result, Red Bull’s time on track has been significantly reduced, raising questions about how much preparation the team will manage ahead of the new Formula 1 season.
Red Bull made use of two of its three allocated testing days earlier in the week, running on Monday and Tuesday. Those sessions were primarily focused on gathering early data from the team’s brand-new power unit, a key component of its long-term ambitions as Formula 1 heads toward a major regulatory overhaul. Early indications suggested the programme was progressing well, with the car completing a respectable number of laps and providing engineers with valuable feedback.
However, Tuesday’s running came to an abrupt and disappointing end when Hadjar lost control of the car and slid off the circuit, making contact with the barriers. While the crash was not considered severe, it caused enough damage to force Red Bull to immediately halt its programme. The incident marked Hadjar’s first notable setback since stepping into a more prominent role with the team, and it placed unexpected pressure on Red Bull’s tightly managed testing schedule.
In the aftermath of the crash, Red Bull confirmed it would not take part in Wednesday’s running as engineers carried out a full assessment of the car. Initial hopes that repairs could be completed swiftly were soon tempered by logistical challenges, with the team forced to wait for replacement parts to be shipped to Spain.
Those delays have now extended into Thursday, with Red Bull officially confirming it will also skip Day 4 of the Barcelona test. The decision was made due to the continued absence of key spare components required to complete the repair work. According to sources within the team, the parts are expected to arrive later on Thursday, but not in time to allow meaningful running on track.
Despite the disruption, Red Bull remains cautiously optimistic that it will be able to resume its testing programme on Friday. The team believes that once the necessary components arrive and repairs are finalised, it will be able to return to the circuit and make up at least some of the lost ground before the test concludes.
While the situation is far from ideal, Red Bull is keen to emphasise that the opening two days of running were productive. The mileage accumulated before the crash allowed the team to gather important baseline data on its new power unit and overall car behaviour, which could prove valuable as development continues behind the scenes.
Nevertheless, the interruption highlights how fine the margins can be during pre-season testing, where time on track is limited and any incident can have a knock-on effect on preparation. For a team accustomed to operating with precision and dominance, the Barcelona disruption serves as an early reminder of the challenges that can arise even before the competitive action begins.
All eyes will now be on Friday to see whether Red Bull can successfully return to the track and salvage the final day of testing, as it looks to put the setback behind it and refocus on its broader goals for the season ahead.
