vcarb-03
Photo: Red Bull Content Pool
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F1 LIVE: Racing Bulls rookie spins at Imola shakedown, Mercedes chief leaves

09:01, 21 Jan
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Racing Bulls rookie Arvid Lindblad spins at first Imola shakedown

Arvid Lindblad has spun during the demo day conducted by Racing Bulls in damp conditions.

As GPblog previously reported, Red Bull Racing will not conduct a shakedown ahead of the Barcelona test days, so the Red Bull Ford power unit was in use for the first time at the Imola circuit during the demo day of Racing Bulls.

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Photo: RacePictures

It was Liam Lawson's turn first in the VCARB03. The New Zealander completed his three laps of the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari with no issues.

It was then Lindblad's turn. On the wet track, the youngster spun at Variante Villeneuve. The driver is ok and the car is undamaged.

The VCARB03 was transported back to the garage on the back of a flat-bed truck.

Experienced Mercedes chief leaves team to take a break from Formula 1

Mercedes' Director of Car Design, John Owen, has decided to take a break from Formula 1, and as a result will leave the team during the later part of the 2026 season.

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John Owen - Photo: Mercedes-AMG F1 team

Owen will be replaced internally by Giacomo Tortora as the team's Director of Car Design. Deputy Technical Director Simone Resta will oversee this group of the organisation.

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