Red Bull Formula 1 technical director Pierre Wache has expressed disappointment with the team’s RB20 car, stating that it did not deliver the expected performance in every area. Despite winning all but one race in 2023, Red Bull made significant changes to the RB20 for the 2024 season to maintain its competitive edge in Formula 1. However, while the team started the season strongly with three 1-2 victories in the first four races, it was gradually caught up by rival teams, particularly McLaren and Mercedes.
In an exclusive interview with Motorsport.com, Wache revealed that Red Bull had anticipated the RB20 to excel in high-speed corners based on simulation data. However, the car fell short of expectations in this area, with Wache stating, „We expected a little bit more than what we have, especially in the high-speed corners.“ Despite improvements in medium and low-speed corners compared to the previous year, the team struggled with high-speed cornering and kerb riding, areas where they had hoped for more progress.
Wache attributed some of the discrepancies between Red Bull’s predictions and the actual performance of the RB20 to factors such as correlation issues, the team’s use of an older wind tunnel, and restrictions on testing capacity due to their championship position. Additionally, he noted that as teams converge on car designs under the current regulations, it becomes increasingly challenging to find significant performance gains, leading to closer competition among teams.
Despite Red Bull’s own struggles to meet their performance targets with the RB20, Wache acknowledged that they had anticipated rival teams to catch up sooner in the 2024 season. He explained, „We expected the opposition to come earlier… because the performance you can find with the car is limited under the same regulations.“ With McLaren closing the gap in the constructors‘ standings and Max Verstappen facing increased pressure in the drivers‘ championship, Red Bull is aware of the challenges ahead in the remaining races of the season.
In conclusion, while Red Bull’s RB20 may not have lived up to the team’s expectations in certain areas, the competitive nature of Formula 1 means that staying ahead of the competition is a constant challenge. As teams continue to push the boundaries of performance within the regulations, Red Bull will need to adapt and improve to maintain its position at the front of the grid.