BARCELONA, SPAIN - Formula 1's 2026 pre-season preparations witnessed dramatic moments during Tuesday's rain-affected testing session at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, highlighted by Red Bull junior Isack Hadjar's crash in the closing stages.

The incident occurred at Turn 14 during wet conditions, damaging the RB22's rear wing and suspension. Red Bull confirmed via social media that Hadjar emerged unscathed: "Isack's afternoon was cut short after finding the barrier... He was out of the car immediately and is ok."

Champions Make Their Mark

Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton completed his first laps in Ferrari colors, surviving a brief gravel excursion, while reigning titleholder Max Verstappen logged 26 morning laps for Red Bull. The Dutchman reportedly set the day's benchmark at 1:19.578 on dry tires before weather intervened.

"For now, it's all about trying to understand if everything is working properly," said Ferrari's Charles Leclerc, who notched 66 laps. "We're not focused on performance whatsoever."

Strategic Testing Approaches

Only Ferrari and Red Bull braved Tuesday's mixed conditions, with other teams opting to conserve resources. McLaren plans to debut their 2026 challenger on Wednesday, while Williams and Aston Martin remain absent from this phase of testing.

Teams focused on systems checks rather than outright pace during the session, with F1's radical 2026 technical regulations prompting extensive evaluations. Sky Sports F1 provides nightly coverage at 9pm GMT, also streaming via YouTube.

Reporting by Sky Sports F1 Team | Additional inputs from Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya

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#Formula 1 #Max Verstappen #Red Bull #Lewis Hamilton #Barcelona Testing