Hadjar Surprised by Red Bull’s High Mileage on Day One of F1 2026 Testing

Formula 1, Sportrik Media - Isack Hadjar has admitted he was surprised by the amount of mileage Red Bull Racing managed to complete on the opening day of Formula 1’s 2026 pre-season test in Barcelona, as the team began its first full on-track evaluation of the new technical era.

The French driver was at the wheel of the RB22 on Monday at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, with the Milton Keynes-based squad using one of its three permitted test days this week to gather baseline data on its new car.

Hadjar is believed to have completed more than 100 laps across the day, a notable figure for an opening test session, particularly given the scale of technical change introduced for 2026. The running marked a key step in Hadjar’s preparation for his first full season with the team, as well as an important validation phase for Red Bull’s latest package.

The Barcelona test also represented a major milestone for Red Bull, with the outing serving as the first on-track appearance of its in-house power unit. For the first time in its Formula 1 history, Red Bull is operating as a full engine manufacturer, having developed the new power unit internally in collaboration with Ford.

Despite acknowledging that the day was not entirely free of issues, Hadjar was impressed by how smoothly the programme unfolded and by the volume of running achieved under demanding conditions.

“It was pretty productive,” Hadjar said.
“Surprisingly, we managed to do a lot more laps than we expected. Everything went pretty smooth.”

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He noted that only minor problems interrupted the programme, an outcome he described as encouraging given the complexity of debuting a brand-new engine and car concept.

“We only had small issues, so it’s quite impressive, considering it’s our first day with our own engine. It was definitely smooth.”

For Hadjar personally, the opening day in Barcelona represented a valuable opportunity to convert months of preparation into meaningful track experience, allowing him to begin refining his understanding of the new systems.

“I couldn’t have prepared the year better, so I’m happy to have at least a very good first day to pay that off,” he added.
“But we are definitely not done with the work.”

The 2026 Formula 1 cars differ significantly from their predecessors, with major revisions to both power unit architecture and aerodynamic philosophy. The new regulations place a stronger emphasis on energy management and efficiency, while reducing overall aerodynamic load.

Offering his early impressions, Hadjar suggested that the cars feel more predictable despite producing less downforce overall.

“There is definitely a lot less load in general,” he explained.
“But it’s a bit more predictable compared to the previous generation of cars.”

He also highlighted a shift in how drivers can interact with the car, particularly from a set-up and operational standpoint.

“They are more simple. It’s easier to play around with them.”

From a power unit perspective, Hadjar pointed to a significant increase in the number of tools available to the driver, reflecting the expanded role of energy deployment under the new regulations.

“On the power unit side, there are a lot more options for the driver to play with,” he said.
“I’ve already started to work on it, so that was very interesting.”

Hadjar’s comments underline the dual challenge facing drivers in 2026: adapting to cars with reduced aerodynamic grip while simultaneously mastering more complex power unit controls. For Red Bull, the ability to complete extensive mileage on the opening day provides a strong foundation for tackling both aspects.

While it remains far too early to draw conclusions about competitive performance, Red Bull’s smooth start in Barcelona offers an encouraging sign for a project entering uncharted territory as both a chassis and engine manufacturer. With further testing still to come, the emphasis now shifts to building on this initial data and translating early reliability into sustained development progress.