Red Bull breaks tradition, delays RB22 track debut until Barcelona test

Red Bull has decided to forego a traditional shakedown of its new RB22, opting to wait until next week's official pre-season test in Barcelona to hit the track. This marks a significant shift in procedure for the team as it enters a new era with its own power unit. While competitors like Audi and Cadillac have already completed initial running, Red Bull is relying on data collected by its sister team, Racing Bulls.

Why it matters:

Skipping a shakedown is a bold move for a team introducing a proprietary power unit for the first time, as these runs are crucial for identifying early reliability issues. However, with Racing Bulls successfully running the Red Bull-Ford engine at Imola, the Milton Keynes squad appears confident in the data gathered. This strategy allows them to maximize their allocation of official testing days later.

The Details:

• Breaking Tradition: Red Bull typically shakes down cars to verify functionality, but the RB22 will remain under wraps until Barcelona.
• Power Unit Context: This is the first season Red Bull produces its own power unit, making the lack of an early run notable given the new regulations.
• Data Sharing: Racing Bulls has already completed initial running at Imola using the same Red Bull-Ford engine, providing valuable data.
• Competitor Activity: Rivals like Audi, Cadillac, and Ferrari have already capitalized on early running or filming days.
• Testing Allocation: The decision preserves resources for the nine days of official testing available before the Australian season opener.

What's next:

The RB22 will finally make its track debut next week in Barcelona, where Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar will get their first taste of the new package. All eyes will be on the performance and reliability of the in-house Red Bull-Ford power unit to see if the gamble to skip the shakedown pays off.