Isack Hadjar of Red Bull clarified the reason behind his accident during the Barcelona Formula 1 shakedown on Tuesday.
The recently appointed Red Bull racer was involved in the sole significant incident of the shakedown period at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, veering off course at the concluding turn late Tuesday amidst rainy weather.
Reports indicate that Hadjar’s Red Bull vehicle sustained considerable damage to its rear, necessitating the team to acquire new components before their last authorized day of testing, subsequent to completing their initial two days on Monday and Tuesday.
Consequently, Red Bull resumed track activities on Friday, with Max Verstappen driving throughout the entire day, completing 118 laps, which increased the team’s cumulative shakedown total to 303 laps.
Hadjar attributed his departure from the track to changing from wet to intermediate tires on the waterlogged circuit.
“Monday was an enjoyable and successful day,” Hadjar stated, having completed 158 laps prior to his incident. “It was highly efficient, and we achieved many more laps than anticipated; operations proceeded quite smoothly with only trivial complications. This was rather remarkable, given it marked our debut day utilizing our proprietary power unit.
“Regrettably, on Tuesday, immediately after transitioning from wet to intermediate tires, I relinquished command of the vehicle at the last corner, and I recognize that the consequences were not optimal for the squad.
Isack Hadjar, Driving for Red Bull
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
“A positive aspect is that I have commenced comprehending and refining elements within the car; naturally, numerous adjustments remain, but progress has been consistent thus far.”
“These vehicles present a distinct experience, significantly different; there’s noticeably reduced downforce overall, and they exhibit greater predictability compared to earlier iterations, being somewhat less complex. They offer more flexibility for manipulation, and regarding the power unit, drivers have a broader array of settings to experiment with.”
“My preparations for this season have been as thorough as possible, and I anticipate a powerful start to the year, though our efforts are far from complete; I am continuously acquiring new knowledge.”
Laurent Mekies, the head of Red Bull, expressed complete support for his recently appointed driver, who was elevated to the main squad during the off-season, replacing Yuki Tsunoda after only a single F1 season. Mekies is certain that the French pilot will nonetheless gain valuable insights from the shakedown event.
“On Monday, we achieved over a hundred laps with Isack, which marked a successful day, but Tuesday proved somewhat more challenging for us,” Mekies remarked. “Max completed a morning session, managing only one extended run before the onset of rain. However, we believed it would be beneficial and insightful to test these new-generation cars in damp conditions.”
“In the afternoon, we transitioned to Isack, and there was no opportunity for dry tires, yet we gathered valuable information in the rain. He departed the track towards the close of the day, under extremely challenging circumstances and with numerous car adjustments still pending.”
“While regrettable, such incidents occur, and this happened following a highly productive Monday for him. The extent of laps Isack completed, along with the progress and knowledge acquired by both him and the team, should not be undervalued.”
Laurent Mekies, Principal of Red Bull Racing Team
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
Mekies also commended the Red Bull mechanics and engineers for successfully returning the RB22 vehicle to the circuit on Friday, enabling it to conclude its initial testing with the freshly introduced Ford-supported Red Bull Powertrains engine.
“The efforts by the team, both at the trackside and at headquarters, to prepare the RB22 for Friday’s return were extraordinary; extensive overnight work was required to secure a third day of operations,” he elaborated. “Max piloted the car for the entire day, also logging over 100 laps, providing profoundly insightful and exceptionally valuable input as we continue our discovery process concerning this novel vehicle and its power unit.”
“We gained a substantial amount from this week, and Max’s expertise, coupled with his meticulous engineering insights, will be instrumental in refining our preparations for Bahrain and subsequent events. Regarding our expectations for the power unit over these initial three days, I must emphasize our immense pride in every individual at the base who provided us with this power unit.”
“Representatives from Ford were present at the track to witness the realization of our efforts, and we extend our sincere gratitude to them for their contribution and backing in this distinctive narrative.”
“Naturally, it is still the initial phase, and perfection has not been attained, but we have already begun the learning process and are collaborating as a unified team on this endeavor. It brought considerable contentment, yet it does not diminish the immense scope of the path before us. We recognize the necessity of diligent preparation and proceeding progressively.”
