Less downforce, more options: Isack Hadjar reflects on Red Bull-Ford’s first track miles. Isack Hadjar completes his debut laps with Red Bull’s RB22 at the Barcelona F1 tests.

F1 | Hadjar shares first impressions of the new Red Bull after Barcelona testing

Isack Hadjar, making his official debut with Red Bull, provided his first feedback on the new RB22 after completing laps during the Barcelona tests. On Monday, Isack Hadjar drove the RB22 for a total of 107 laps. Unlike some other teams, Red Bull decided not to rotate drivers, giving Hadjar the entire day on track. The 2026 season will not only mark Isack Hadjar’s first year alongside Max Verstappen but also the debut of Red Bull’s first engine branded Red Bull-Ford.

Late incident ends test session

Isack Hadjar ended his test session at the Barcelona circuit on the second day after an incident in the final minutes. Red Bull driver #6 lost control of the car and collided with the barriers. The damage to the RB22 required several hours of repair before the car could return to the track.

Initial impressions from Hadjar

Red Bull opted not to run any filming days before the Barcelona tests. Both Isack Hadjar and Max Verstappen only experienced the new RB22 on track starting Monday, January 26. Hadjar commented on his first laps: “It was great to have a good day on Monday. It was very productive, and we managed to complete far more laps than expected; everything went fairly smoothly and we only had minor issues. It was quite impressive, considering it was our first day with our Power Unit.”

He added: “Unfortunately, on Tuesday, right after switching from wet to intermediate tires, I lost control of the car in the final corner, and I know the consequences were not ideal for the team. The positive side is that I have already started to understand and work on different aspects of the car; there are obviously still many things to refine, but so far, progress has been steady.”

Adapting to the new generation of cars

Hadjar also highlighted some differences in the new cars compared to recent years: “These cars are different, very different: there is definitely less overall aerodynamic load, and they are a bit more predictable than the previous generation, in addition to being more linear. It’s easier to experiment with their behavior, and on the Power Unit side, there are many more options the driver can play with.”

Isack Hadjar’s debut with the Red Bull RB22 in Barcelona offered a fascinating glimpse into the team’s transition toward its new identity as a full works manufacturer. Despite the late-session incident on Tuesday, the high mileage achieved on the opening day suggests that the Red Bull-Ford power unit has hit its initial reliability targets, providing a stable foundation for Hadjar to explore the “linear” handling characteristics of the 2026 aero package. His observations regarding reduced downforce and increased driver settings within the cockpit indicate that the new regulations will place a premium on technical adaptability and precise energy management. As the team analyzes the data from this first track outing, the focus now shifts to refining the RB22’s performance envelope, ensuring that both Hadjar and Verstappen have a car capable of maintaining Red Bull’s dominant legacy as the lights go out in the new era.