F1 | Red Bull: promising engine on an RB22 that Verstappen likes
Red Bull faced a demanding challenge to rebuild the car smashed by Isack Hadjar on Tuesday, but four-time world champion Max Verstappen was able to assess the potential of Pierre Waché’s RB22. While the mileage was limited, the package already looks promising.
Ford representatives were also on hand to closely monitor the debut of the Red Bull Powertrains DM01 power unit at the Barcelona shakedown. For the Milton Keynes team, it marked a historic moment, transforming the organization from a “fuel supplier” to chassis developers and finally to global Constructors. A bold and costly step, especially after Honda exited F1 only to return quickly via Aston Martin.
The RB22 debut at Montmeló generated plenty of excitement for a team usually known for its clinical approach. Laurent Mekies’ staff lined up a series of firsts: the power unit, the new agile chassis, and the first outing of Isack Hadjar, Max Verstappen’s new teammate.
After five days of Spanish testing, how did Red Bull fare? Looking at the timesheet, seeing Super Max in seventh might raise eyebrows—he was 1.238 seconds behind Lewis Hamilton, who topped the charts in the Ferrari SF-26 on soft tires. But Red Bull wasn’t chasing outright pace; the goal was understanding how Waché’s new car performs under the complex 2026 regulations.
The DM01 power unit might not be the most powerful on the grid (Mercedes remains the benchmark), but it immediately showed it was robust and free of major teething issues. This indicates that, combined with the RB22 chassis, it could form a package worth watching closely.
“We have a lot to learn from this week,” admitted Laurent Mekies. “But Max’s experience and precision in giving feedback to the engineers will help us finalize preparations for Bahrain and beyond. Regarding the expectations we had for the power unit over these first three days, I can only say we’re all proud of those who delivered it. It’s early, nothing is perfect, but we’ve already started understanding how to get the best out of it.”
If the engine exceeded expectations, how about the car itself? Waché’s development path differs from other teams, with sidepods not scooped under the radiator intakes but designed to channel airflow toward the floor, feeding a prominent diffuser-side vent and a uniquely configured PU cooling system.
Red Bull must provide Verstappen with a competitive car to dissuade him from leaving Milton Keynes before his contract ends, perhaps in pursuit of a Mercedes-powered car. It’s a tough task, but Verstappen, not at full physical fitness on Friday, still completed 118 of the 303 laps over the three days.
The team had to rebuild half the car after Hadjar’s Tuesday crash on the wet track. The Frenchman had just switched to intermediate tires, possibly too early, and hit the barriers hard at the final corner, severely damaging the rear end and more.
A rush began to procure replacement parts—some built hastily at the Milton Keynes factory—and a special flight was organized to have them ready at the circuit Thursday evening for overnight assembly of the RB22.
Verstappen, therefore, didn’t chase lap times, focusing instead on gathering data on car and power unit behavior, contributing to the development of a car that already shows strong personality.
The four-time world champion is an invaluable asset for Red Bull: beyond speed, he provides acute sensitivity for setup work. As a dedicated simulator user, Max understands how to maximize the limited electric energy available, giving engineers vital feedback.
Despite objective challenges, Red Bull wasn’t concerned with lap times. The team ran development work primarily on Pirelli soft C3 tires (skipping C1s and only using one set of C2s) to understand tire behavior fully.
Judging by end-of-test smiles, the insights were positive for Hadjar too. The rookie limited his gap to Max Verstappen to six-tenths. Tuesday’s wet-track crash complicated plans, but the Frenchman appears to have integrated well into a team historically focused on Max Verstappen.
“We completed over 100 laps on Monday with Isack, while Tuesday was more difficult for us. Max ran in the morning and did a long run before the rain started. We switched to Isack in the afternoon. He went off track at the end of the day in very challenging conditions with still many things to adjust on the car. It was unfortunate, but these things can happen…”
The successful integration of the Red Bull-Ford power unit and the unique aerodynamic direction of the RB22 suggest that Milton Keynes has navigated the first hurdle of the 2026 regulations with technical distinction. While Isack Hadjar’s Tuesday crash forced the team into an exhausting logistical recovery, Max Verstappen’s high-quality feedback regarding the DM01’s electrical deployment and the chassis’s “personality” confirms that the fundamental DNA of the car is robust. By prioritizing data correlation over headline lap times, Red Bull has established a solid baseline that justifies the team’s bold transition into a full-scale works manufacturer. As the focus shifts to the official tests in Bahrain, the primary challenge will be refining the unique cooling and floor-feeding solutions that set Pierre Waché’s design apart, ensuring that Verstappen has the technical weapons necessary to defend his legacy in Formula 1’s new hybrid era.
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