BREAKING: Max Verstappen Revealed he illness during F1’s Barcelona sh…. Read more
Max Verstappen battles illness during gruelling Barcelona F1 shakedown as Red Bull log crucial 2026 mileage
By Hugo Harvey
Max Verstappen has revealed that he completed Formula 1’s demanding Barcelona shakedown while battling illness, adding another layer of challenge to Red Bull’s first serious on-track running ahead of the 2026 season. The four-time world champion admitted he had been feeling unwell throughout the week in Spain, yet still managed to deliver valuable feedback and competitive lap times as the Milton Keynes-based team pushed through a disrupted but ultimately productive test.
Red Bull were one of the busiest teams during the three days of permitted private testing at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, completing a reported total of 303 laps split between Verstappen and rookie team-mate Isack Hadjar. Verstappen was scheduled to drive on the final day, Friday, and when he spoke to F1.com following the shakedown, his condition was immediately obvious. Through coughs and splutters, the Dutchman did not try to hide the fact that he was struggling physically.
“I’m ill. I’m a bit sick,” Verstappen said with a laugh when asked how he was feeling heading into the new era of Formula 1 regulations in 2026. Despite the discomfort, he was confident the issue would not linger. “I’ll feel better at the start of the season,” he added, downplaying any long-term concern and reinforcing his trademark resilience.
The illness came during a week that was already far from straightforward for Red Bull. Poor weather conditions in the early part of the test limited meaningful running, particularly for Verstappen. Prior to Friday, the reigning champion had completed just 27 laps in the RB22, all of which came in wet conditions. That lack of dry running meant Red Bull had to be patient, carefully managing their programme while waiting for a clearer opportunity to gather data.
Complicating matters further, Red Bull’s test suffered a major interruption on Tuesday evening when Hadjar crashed and made contact with the barriers. The incident caused significant damage to the car, forcing the team into an unplanned pause while spare parts were flown in from the Red Bull Technology Campus in Milton Keynes. With the clock ticking on their limited testing allocation, the incident placed additional pressure on the engineers and mechanics to recover lost time.
When Verstappen finally returned to the cockpit on Friday, he made the most of it. Reflecting on the overall test, he struck a balanced and realistic tone. “Overall pretty decent,” he said. “The first morning [Tuesday] I didn’t get to do too many laps, because of the weather basically. But today [Friday] was good, I did a lot of laps, we learned a lot.”
Verstappen acknowledged that the work was far from complete, especially with a new engine package in play as Formula 1 prepares for sweeping technical changes in 2026. “Still a lot of things we want to look into and do better but that’s normal I guess,” he explained. “With the new engine, to do the amount of laps that we did was very nice and it’s a good start for us. So, positive, but it’s still very early days.”
Despite illness, limited dry running, and the disruption caused by Hadjar’s crash, Verstappen’s performance on the final day underlined Red Bull’s underlying strength. According to the unofficial timesheet from the Barcelona shakedown, Verstappen set the quicker of the two Red Bull laps, recording a 1:17.586. That time placed him seventh overall among all drivers who participated in the test. Hadjar, continuing his adaptation to life at the sharp end of Formula 1, set a best lap of 1:18.159, which was ninth-fastest overall.
As always with pre-season and private testing, the raw lap times tell only part of the story. Teams are known to run vastly different programmes, fuel loads, and engine modes, making direct comparisons unreliable. It was widely reported that Mercedes and Ferrari, for example, attempted more aggressive, qualifying-style runs on their final days, while others focused on long runs and system checks. Against that backdrop, Verstappen’s pace while unwell will quietly encourage Red Bull, even if the stopwatch is not the primary focus at this stage.
For Verstappen personally, the Barcelona shakedown was less about headlines and more about laying foundations. Fighting through illness to deliver consistent feedback and rack up mileage speaks to his commitment as Red Bull embark on one of the most significant transitions in Formula 1 history. If Barcelona was any indication, even a sick Max Verstappen remains a formidable benchmark as the countdown to 2026 continues.
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