Red Bull’s 2024 Formula 1 car hasn’t hit the mark, according to technical director Pierre Wache.
Despite winning all but one race in 2023, Red Bull made significant changes to their 2024 car, the RB20, to stay ahead in the competition. However, the car did not perform as well as expected, especially in high-speed corners.
Wache explained that the team had high hopes based on simulation data, but the reality didn’t quite match up. “Especially in the high-speed corners we expected a little bit more than what we have,” he admitted.
While they’ve improved in medium and low-speed corners, the high-speed performance has been lacking compared to last year. “We were a little bit weaker in the high-speed corners compared to last year relative to the competition,” Wache noted.
One particular area of weakness is kerb riding, where the team struggled last year and has seen little improvement. The old wind tunnel and reduced testing capacity due to championship restrictions are partly to blame, according to Wache.
Interestingly, Red Bull anticipated that their rivals would catch up quicker, but it took longer than expected. As Wache pointed out, “We expected the opposition to come earlier, to be honest with you.”
This season, McLaren and Mercedes have shown significant improvements since May. Still, Max Verstappen maintains a 78-point lead in the drivers’ standings, while McLaren has closed the gap to 42 points in the constructors’ standings with 10 races to go.
Despite these setbacks, Red Bull remains optimistic. The competitive nature of F1 means that teams will inevitably catch up as car designs converge. The challenge now is to adapt and find new ways to secure their lead.
Red Bull’s 2024 F1 car may not have delivered as expected, but the team is ready to tackle the challenges ahead, adapting and pushing forward in the highly competitive world of Formula 1.
