Red Bull's Day 2 Woes vs Ferrari's Solid Start in Barcelona Testing

Day two of 2026 F1 testing in Barcelona proved turbulent for Red Bull, with Max Verstappen spinning and reserve driver Isack Hadjar crashing, while Ferrari showcased strong reliability by clearing 100 laps. McLaren opted to delay its track debut until Wednesday to maximize preparation time.

Why it matters:

With the massive regulatory overhaul for 2026, early reliability and data collection are paramount. Red Bull's lost mileage puts them on the back foot compared to Ferrari, which appears to have hit the ground running with its new power unit and chassis package.

The details:

• Red Bull's Struggles: After a perfect Monday, Tuesday was a reality check. Verstappen slid off on his outlap, causing a red flag and limiting his dry running to just 27 laps. Later, Hadjar crashed in the wet conditions, causing significant damage. Because teams lose a test day the moment they leave the pits, Red Bull couldn't salvage the day by staying in the garage.
• Ferrari's Reliability: The Scuderia focused on system checks rather than pure pace. Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton combined for over 100 laps, with Leclerc setting the second-fastest time behind Verstappen. The team reported no major reliability issues with the new car.
• McLaren's Strategy: The Woking team chose not to run on Tuesday, pushing the MCL40's shakedown to Wednesday. This allows them three consecutive days of running to maximize data gathering without a break.
• Weather Impact: Rain disrupted the afternoon session. Teams like Audi and Cadillac sat out to fix Monday's issues and wait for better forecasted weather later in the week.

What's next:

The weather forecast for the remainder of the week looks promising, allowing teams like Audi and Cadillac to finally get their programs underway. McLaren will debut its car, while Red Bull will hope to repair the damage and get back on track.