The Red Bull squad is in the middle of a slight slump. The team has not won a race in the last four outings. Although RBR is sitting at the top of the leaderboard, inching towards yet another world title triumph, the pathway to success isn’t as easy as it appears. Teams like McLaren and Mercedes are giving RBR a tough time, and as a result, the Milton Keynes-based outfit seems vulnerable.
Therefore, technical time is on override to tackle the intense car development battle. The RB20 was among the most advanced F1 cars at the beginning of the season. However, it suddenly appears off pace since the last few races. Thus, the team’s technical head, Pierre Wache, has explained the reason behind an off-color Red Bull.
A Breakdown Of RB20’s Technical Flaws By Pierre Wache
Speaking to Motorsport.com, Pierre Waché identified several factors contributing to Red Bull being caught by the competition this year. He pointed out that the correlation between the wind tunnel and on-track performance has been an issue, noting that Red Bull’s wind tunnel is relatively old and their championship position limits their usage hours.
Waché explained that while Ferrari had the strongest car at the beginning of 2022, they expected more opposition in 2023, which didn’t materialize. However, other teams began catching up after the first few races of 2024. He mentioned that stabilizing the regulations long enough can lead to a closer field, as teams can take inspiration from each other’s innovations. Over the past two years, other teams have mostly taken ideas from Red Bull, but Red Bull also needs other teams to find new concepts so they can continue to improve.
Currently, Red Bull faces a threat in the constructors’ championship, with McLaren just 42 points behind. Waché admitted that Red Bull had not maintained its strength in high-speed corners compared to last year. While the car has improved significantly in slow and medium-speed corners, it hasn’t delivered as expected in all areas.
Audi Makes A Sensational Swap Amid Red Bull’s Internal Chaos
In a recent F1 development, Audi has recruited Jonathan Wheatley to oversee the team in 2025. After nearly two decades with Red Bull, Wheatley’s long-term contract will come to an end. The RBR Sporting Director joined the squad in 2005 and was instrumental in starting it from scratch. Although his Formula One career began in 1991, the British engineer rose to prominence after winning two titles with Renault in the 2000s. Red Bull confirmed that he will quit the setup in 2025. This was Audi’s second major signing in a week.