P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Hadjar breaks silence on $514k Barcelona crash
Isack Hadjar, the 2026 F1 teammate of Max Verstappen, has reflected on his crash during the Barcelona shakedown earlier this week, where he caused significant damage to the RB22, estimated at $514,000. Verstappen and Red Bull had to sit out Wednesday and Thursday to await spare parts, but managed to accumulate 303 laps in total with Hadjar by the end of the session on Friday. Hadjar described his week as mixed, highlighting the productive first day and the unfortunate crash on Tuesday, where he lost control in the final corner.
He expressed that despite the challenges, he is steadily understanding the new car and learning every day to prepare for the upcoming season. Verstappen also shared his positive outlook on the shakedown, emphasizing the importance of the team’s hard work on their new power unit, named DM01. Despite acknowledging that there is still much room for improvement, he noted the emotional atmosphere in the garage and the progress they have made during the testing sessions.
