Red Bull F1 Tech Director Admits RB20 Didn’t Meet Expectations in Key Areas
In an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com, Red Bull Formula 1 technical director Pierre Wache revealed that the team’s RB20 car “didn’t deliver what we expected” in every area, despite winning all but one race in 2023. As the Milton Keynes-based squad looks to maintain its dominance in the Formula 1 standings, Wache openly discussed the car’s performance shortcomings, particularly in high-speed corners.
“I would say not really. We improved compared to last year, without doubt, but we didn’t deliver what we expected in some areas.”
The RB20’s simulation data had led the team to anticipate significant improvements in high-speed corners, but the reality has fallen short. While the team has made strides in medium-speed and low-speed corners, it still lags behind in high-speed corners, an area where it had hoped to excel. Wache attributed this to correlation issues with the team’s old wind tunnel, as well as the reduced capacity due to their championship position, which limits their ATR testing. Additionally, the third year of the current regulations has made it increasingly difficult to find performance gains.
Despite these setbacks, Wache emphasized that Red Bull anticipated rival teams would eventually close the gap, given the limited opportunities for performance gains under the current regulations.
“We expected the opposition to come earlier, to be honest with you.”
Indeed, McLaren and Mercedes have begun to bridge the gap, with McLaren now just 42 points behind Red Bull in the constructors’ standings. Meanwhile, Max Verstappen still enjoys a comfortable 78-point lead in the drivers’ standings, but Wache remains focused on the team’s performance, rather than its current position in the Formula 1 standings.
With 10 races left in the 2024 season, Red Bull will be pushing to optimize its RB20 and stay ahead of the pack. As the Formula 1 calendar moves into its second half, fans can expect an intense battle for supremacy at the top of the standings.
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