Red Bull Technical Chief Details RB22's Shortcomings Against Rivals
Red Bull's Pierre Wachè says the RB22 trails Ferrari and Mercedes in traction and straight-line speed, challenging the idea that his team's car is the preseason benchmark. He cites driver feedback and data from testing, with the true competitive picture to be revealed in Melbourne.
Red Bull technical director Pierre Wachè has pushed back against claims his team's RB22 is the preseason benchmark, instead pointing to specific areas where he believes Ferrari and Mercedes currently hold an advantage. Despite a strong start to testing, Wachè highlighted traction and straight-line speed as key weaknesses that need addressing before the season opener in Melbourne.
Why it matters:
Red Bull's candid self-assessment contradicts the narrative from rivals like Mercedes' Toto Wolff, who labeled the RB22 as the car to beat. Acknowledging these performance gaps early is crucial for the team's development direction, especially as they aim to defend both championships against resurgent competition from Ferrari and a potentially revitalized Mercedes.
The Details:
- Performance Gap: Wachè identified low and medium-speed corner traction as a particular weakness, noting it was "not our strength already last year" and that rivals are currently "stronger than us."
- Straight-Line Speed: He expressed interest in the straight-line speed shown by both Ferrari and Mercedes, "especially on new fuel," suggesting an area for competitive analysis.
- Testing Caveats: The Frenchman emphasized the difficulty of making definitive performance judgments until all teams are on equal footing in qualifying at the Australian Grand Prix, due to unknown fuel loads and engine modes during testing.
- Driver Feedback: The assessment is partly based on feedback from Max Verstappen and test driver Isack Hadjar, correlating driver comments with where the car is losing time on track.
What's next:
The final phase of pre-season testing in Bahrain from February 18-20 will be critical for Red Bull to find solutions. With the competitive order still murky, the true picture will only emerge under the pressure of qualifying in Melbourne. Red Bull's ability to understand and rectify these admitted weaknesses quickly could define the early phase of the championship battle.
summary: Red Bull's Pierre Wachè says the RB22 trails Ferrari and Mercedes in traction and straight-line speed, challenging the idea that his team's car is the preseason benchmark. He cites driver feedback and data from testing, with the true competitive picture to be revealed in Melbourne.