Ferrari and Red Bull did not run on Tuesday morning in Barcelona. Leclerc and Verstappen are managing timing in a limited test, with the focus on reliability and planning on the road to Bahrain.
The second day of private Formula 1 testing in Barcelona kicked off with a different scenario than expected. Charles Leclerc and Max Verstappen did not take to the track during Tuesday morning, after Ferrari and Red Bull decided to reshuffle their work plans for later on, in a shakedown where every available hour counts double.
The early absence of both teams caught attention because the test format is extremely limited. Only seven teams are present in Montmeló and each one can run just three of the five available days. In that context, any schedule adjustment is read as a sign of caution, planning, or technical necessity.
While Verstappen with Red Bull and Leclerc with Ferrari stayed in the garage during the first hours, other teams took advantage of the track to keep adding mileage with their new cars. Mercedes, Haas, and Audi continued with their programs, prioritizing reliability and data collection at a stage where outright performance still takes a back seat.
In Red Bull’s case, the decision to delay the run was linked to internal adjustments and final checks before putting Verstappen’s car on track. The team knows the focus is on validating systems and avoiding early setbacks, especially at the start of a season marked by deep technical changes.
Ferrari, meanwhile, also chose to manage timing carefully with Leclerc as the day’s main driver. The Italian team plans to split the work between morning and afternoon, with a program aimed at making better use of track conditions and reducing risks in the opening laps.
Tuesday also had a particular element once again: the lack of Live Timing during part of the session. That decision reinforces the test’s privacy and makes any external analysis more complex, placing the emphasis on each team’s internal objectives.
The Barcelona shakedown is being held behind closed doors and under tight information control. Public references are minimal, and many readings are drawn from movements and lap counts rather than positions.
With several teams absent this week, each day carries extra weight. Red Bull and Ferrari know it, as do Verstappen and Leclerc, and that’s why they prefer not to rush. The priority is arriving in Bahrain with a reliable car.
As a result, Tuesday left a different snapshot: an active track, but with key protagonists watching from the garage, prioritizing planning over exposure and steady, quiet internal work.