Hadjar claims Red Bull has "not fully unlocked its car yet"

F1 Test, Sakhir, Bahrain International Circuit

Following his first proper test days with his new team, Red Bull's Isack Hadjar sounded a positive note, but he also acknowledged that the Austrian-British outfit still needs to unlock its new F1 car.

The Frenchman wrapped up the final day of the opening three‑day pre‑season test in Bahrain with a measured sense of satisfaction, highlighting both his own progress and the team’s steady momentum.

Hadjar explained that the session felt “really productive from the moment we rolled out,” noting that the car gave him “a solid platform to work with” as he settled into longer runs. He emphasized that the team wasn’t chasing lap times but instead focusing on understanding how the car behaves across different fuel loads and setup variations.

One of the key themes of Hadjar’s reflection was the team’s strong reliability throughout the day. He pointed out that being able to run without interruptions allowed Red Bull to “tick off everything we needed to test,” especially in relation to the new power unit. According to Hadjar, the engine “felt smooth and consistent all session,” giving the engineers valuable data to build on.

He also highlighted how important it was to complete the full programme: “When you get this much clean running, it really accelerates the learning curve,” he said, adding that the team now has “a much clearer picture of where the car is strongest and where we still need to refine things.”

Hadjar was particularly focused on balance changes and tyre behaviour, two areas that often define early‑season development. He noted that the RB “responded well to the setup changes,” and that each run helped him understand how the car evolves over a stint.

Tyre management, he said, “is always a big part of testing here,” and the team gathered “a lot of useful information” on degradation and temperature sensitivity.

Despite the progress, Hadjar acknowledged that there is still work ahead. He described the car as “promising but not fully unlocked yet,” stressing that the team will continue experimenting with different directions during the next test.

For Hadjar personally, the session was more than just mileage. He described it as “a great chance to contribute to the team’s preparation” and to deepen his understanding of the RB’s characteristics.

He praised the engineers for helping him get up to speed quickly and said he felt “more and more comfortable” as the laps built up.

As the first test concluded, Hadjar expressed confidence that Red Bull is heading into the next week with a strong foundation. He believes the team has “a good baseline to build from” and that the data gathered will be crucial for fine‑tuning the car before Melbourne.

The Frenchman’s calm, thoughtful assessment reflects a team that is not rushing to conclusions but quietly satisfied with its early progress — and ready to push further when testing resumes.