Isack Hadjar faced a setback when he crashed his Red Bull during the second day of wet conditions at the Barcelona shakedown, where both Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen made their initial appearances for their teams.
On this rain-affected day, Hamilton and Verstappen managed to complete their first laps at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The situation proved challenging, especially for Hadjar, who encountered difficulties that ultimately led to the crash. The teams participating had the option to run on any three of the five days during this behind-closed-doors test. Interestingly, only Ferrari and Red Bull decided to take advantage of the inclement weather on Tuesday – a choice that would have ramifications for Red Bull.
This unexpected move by Red Bull to run in the rain, even after a solid performance the previous day, ended up having negative consequences. In the closing hour of the session, Hadjar misjudged a corner at Turn 14, causing damage to the rear wing and suspension of the RB22. This incident served as a vivid reminder of the difficulties drivers encounter in adverse conditions, highlighting the risks involved in Formula 1 testing.
The day’s challenges were compounded when Hamilton, during his first outing at the event, found himself running into the gravel. Fortunately, he managed to avoid any significant damage to his Ferrari, demonstrating his expertise and quick thinking under pressure. This initial encounter with the track showcased the unpredictable nature of wet-weather driving in F1, where even the most experienced drivers must remain vigilant.
Later in the evening, Red Bull reaffirmed that Hadjar emerged unscathed from the accident, issuing a brief statement on their social media channels. “That’s a wrap for day two of Shakedown, with 78 laps of running for Max and Isack in RB22,” they stated. Their message continued with reassurance, noting, “Isack’s afternoon was cut short after finding the barrier at Turn 14. He was out of the car immediately and is okay.”
Ferrari seized the opportunity on Tuesday to conduct their first runs after opting out of Monday’s dry conditions. Their strategic decision was emblematic of their methodical approach as they looked to gather critical data despite the rain. They had previously run the SF-26 at their Fiorano test track, ensuring that their preparations were thorough.
Charles Leclerc was the first to hit the track for Ferrari, taking advantage of the initially dry conditions. Shortly after, Verstappen joined him in his RB22, marking his first laps of the shakedown after Hadjar’s all-day run on Monday. The two drivers’ initial laps were relatively straightforward, but as the weather shifted, they faced the challenge of adapting to the slippery circuit.
While multiple teams, including Mercedes, Racing Bulls, Haas, Audi, Alpine, and Cadillac, opted for a day off on Tuesday, McLaren delayed their start until Wednesday, and Williams missed the entire event. Aston Martin hoped to return to the track by Thursday. This situation underscored the advantages some teams might gain by capitalizing on the unpredictable weather.
As the morning session progressed, both Leclerc and Verstappen engaged in early slick-tyre running. However, midway through, rain fell, forcing the drivers to switch to wet tyres. This transition not only challenged their driving skills but also provided them with valuable experience in F1’s new 2026 cars under treacherous conditions.
In the morning, Leclerc completed an impressive 66 laps while Verstappen managed 26 before they were replaced by their respective teammates in the afternoon. Hamilton went on to complete 57 laps for Ferrari, while Hadjar managed 52 laps for Red Bull before his crash curtailed his efforts. Given the closed-door nature of testing, official lap times were not released, but it was understood that Verstappen initially set a benchmark time of 1:19.578 on dry tyres – a figure 1.5 seconds slower than the pace on Monday, which Hadjar had set.
Despite the varying lap times, the primary focus during the week was on reliability and system checks rather than outright speed. Teams were eager to assess their latest cars following a significant overhaul in technical regulations deemed the largest in the sport’s recent history.
Leclerc, reflecting on their performance, indicated that Ferrari could be pleased with their progress. “For now, it’s all about understanding if everything is working properly, which it kind of did,” he stated. Despite the less than ideal conditions, he emphasized their commitment to completing their testing program without prioritizing performance metrics.
He noted, “It’s not the best conditions because it has been a little bit raining this morning but, actually, we did our program anyway because we are not focused on performance whatsoever.” His assessment highlighted the importance of testing systems that were newly integrated into their car, with the encouraging feedback that they performed as expected.
As he spoke about the atmosphere within Scuderia Ferrari and their hopes to rebound from a disappointing 2025 season, in which they placed fourth in the standings and failed to win any races, Leclerc’s excitement was palpable. He remarked, “I am very excited to see what the others have in store and, when we start pushing a little bit more, to see where we are compared to the others.”
Leclerc pointed to the upcoming season as a pivotal moment for all teams, expressing optimism about potential advancements, “I think this year is a big opportunity for every team to do something different and to maybe gain a bigger advantage than what we have seen the last few years.” His aspirations for Ferrari were clear as he concluded, “I hope we are the team that will manage to make the difference, but wherever we start we will push at the maximum to try and bring Ferrari back to the top. It’s been quite a few years, so I hope this one is ours.” His enthusiasm and determination to reclaim Ferrari’s former glory reflect the spirit of competition that drives innovation and performance in Formula 1.
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