Racing Bulls Rookie Spins During Imola Shakedown; Mercedes Design Chief Departs

Racing Bulls' shakedown at Imola ended with rookie Arvid Lindblad spinning into the gravel, though the team successfully completed the debut run of the new Red Bull Ford power unit. Simultaneously, Mercedes confirmed a significant change in their technical structure as Director of Car Design John Owen prepares to step away from Formula 1 later this year.

Why it matters:

This shakedown was crucial for validating the new Red Bull Ford power unit ahead of the Barcelona tests, offering a first glimpse of the partnership's reliability in real-world conditions. For Mercedes, the departure of a senior design figure comes as the team continues to push for performance, requiring seamless internal transitions to maintain their competitive trajectory.

The details:

• Imola Incident: Liam Lawson drove the VCARB03 first, completing three trouble-free laps to shake down the car. Arvid Lindblad then took over but spun at Variante Villeneuve on a damp track. The car was recovered by a flat-bed truck with no damage reported, and the driver was unharmed.
• Power Unit Milestone: With Red Bull Racing opting not to conduct a separate shakedown before the Barcelona test, Racing Bulls' demo day served as the official debut for the Red Bull Ford engine on track.
• Mercedes Restructuring: John Owen will leave his post later in the 2026 season to take a break from the sport. He will be succeeded internally by Giacomo Tortora, while Deputy Technical Director Simone Resta will oversee the design group moving forward.

What's next:

Both teams will now shift their full focus to the upcoming Barcelona test days. Mercedes will aim to stabilize its technical leadership, while Racing Bulls will analyze the data from the shakedown to optimize the VCARB03 for the season ahead.