F1 | Red Bull almost missed Barcelona testing after Hadjar crash: Mekies reveals
Red Bull nearly didn’t make it back on track during the Barcelona tests. The Milton Keynes team risked cutting their program short, but Laurent Mekies has now shed light on the extra work required after Isack Hadjar’s accident to get the RB22 back on track.
Mechanics ultimately repaired the rear-end damage to the RB22, allowing Max Verstappen to participate yesterday and complete 118 laps. The car featured the power unit produced for the first time by Red Bull Powertrains, making it crucial to cover as many kilometers as possible.
Importantly, the team gathered significant feedback on reliability. The data will now be analyzed, with the focus in Bahrain expected to shift primarily to performance.
Mekies reflects on Red Bull’s Barcelona shakedown
Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies shared behind-the-scenes insights after Hadjar’s crash. The incident nearly disrupted the team’s work, but the RB22 returned to the track for the final day. The French driver’s mistake occurred in wet conditions after switching from full wets to intermediates, causing him to hit the barriers.
“Isack went off track at the end of the day, in very challenging conditions, with many aspects of the car still needing adjustment. He was unlucky, but these things happen, and the incident followed a very positive Monday for him,” Laurent Mekies explained.
“It was an incredible effort by the team on track and at the Campus to get the RB22 back out by Friday. There were long nights to ensure we had a third day of running.”
Despite the accident, the team managed to gather valuable information, as the crash happened only at the end of Tuesday’s session. Laurent Mekies added, “The number of laps completed by Isack, and the development and learning he and the team achieved, cannot be underestimated.”
Reliability feedback from the RB22
The DM01 power unit, developed with support from Ford, completed a high number of laps, with initial feedback even exceeding expectations. Reliability was confirmed by Racing Bulls, which uses the same engine.
“Regarding what we expected from the power unit in these first three days, I can only underline how proud we are of everyone who worked at the base and delivered this PU,” Laurent Mekies stated. “We have a lot to take away from this week, and Max’s experience will help shape our preparations for Bahrain and the rest of the season.”
The resilience shown by Red Bull following Isack Hadjar’s Barcelona accident underscores the high stakes of the 2026 technical transition, where every lost lap represents a missed opportunity to master the new Red Bull-Ford power unit. By pulling off a logistical miracle to get Max Verstappen back on track for the final day, the team ensured that their ambitious engine project remained on schedule despite the rookie’s unfortunate error in the wet. Laurent Mekies’ praise for both the trackside crew and the staff at the Milton Keynes Campus highlights a united front as they navigate the complexities of becoming a full works manufacturer. As the focus shifts from emergency repairs to performance optimization in Bahrain, the robust reliability demonstrated by the RB22 and its sister cars suggests that Red Bull’s foundation for the new era is remarkably solid, provided they can keep the car away from the barriers.
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