Hadjar’s Pre-Season Testing Cut Short by Wet-Weather Crash in Barcelona

Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar crashed in wet conditions on the second day of Formula 1 pre-season testing in Barcelona, bringing his running to an early end.

The 21-year-old Frenchman, who was promoted to Red Bull’s senior team for the 2026 season after just one year in Formula 1, lost control of his car at the fast final corner of the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and hit the barriers.

The test is being conducted behind closed doors with no independent media access, and Red Bull has declined to comment publicly on the incident. However, eyewitnesses at the circuit reported that Hadjar was on his first flying lap on intermediate tyres, having just switched from full wets.

With the track still damp and light drizzle lingering, Hadjar spun and struck the barrier backwards.

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies described the conditions as challenging but played down concerns over the crash.

“It was very tricky conditions this afternoon, so it’s unfortunate that it ended that way, but it’s part of the game,” Mekies said. “This comes after a very positive day yesterday in terms of the number of laps Isack completed, his learning curve, and the quality of his feedback to the engineers. We’ll do our best to repair the car and see what comes next.”

Prior to the incident, Red Bull had continued the encouraging momentum built on the opening day of the test. Four-time world champion Max Verstappen completed his first run in the new car during the morning session, briefly running off at Turn Five on his opening lap out of the pits before safely rejoining the track.

Under testing regulations, Red Bull is permitted only one additional day of running, having already used two of its allotted three days this week. Weather conditions limited on-track action Tuesday, with only Red Bull and Ferrari running, as teams are restricted to participating on three of the five available test days.

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Written by

James Rees

A passionate motorsport journalist from Wales, with over 30 years of love for the sport. A dedicated father of three, working as a content manager, covering the fast-paced world of Formula 1, Formula 2, Formula 3, Formula E, and IndyCar.

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