Red Bull's Bahrain test disrupted by 'routine' issue

Red Bull's second day of pre-season testing in Bahrain was delayed by a 'routine issue' discovered during a rebuild of the RB22, sidelining test driver Isack Hadjar for the first two hours of the morning session. The team described the problem as minor but is proceeding with caution this early in the year, with operations appearing calm and under control in the garage.

Why it matters:

Any disruption to limited pre-season testing is significant, as teams have only three days to gather critical data before the first race. For Red Bull, starting its new technical partnership with Ford, maximizing every track minute is crucial to validate its car and address any early concerns, especially after Racing Bulls experienced power unit issues on the first day.

The details:

• The delay was caused by a problem found Wednesday night during a scheduled rebuild of the car at the Bahrain International Circuit.
• Red Bull confirmed the issue is minor but is taking a cautious approach given the stage of the pre-season.
• The team's garage atmosphere remained calm, indicating the problem was manageable and not a major setback.
• This follows a strong first day where Max Verstappen topped the timesheets for much of the running, with the RB22's design drawing considerable attention from rival teams in the paddock.

What's next:

Red Bull does not plan to introduce further upgrades during this first test, saving new parts for the second test session also in Bahrain. The focus will be on recovering the lost track time and continuing its data-gathering program. The team's response to this minor setback will be a small but telling indicator of its operational preparedness as it embarks on its first season as a full works team with Ford.