Pierre Waché has admitted that Red Bull’s progress with the RB22 is still not enough, despite Max Verstappen claiming an unexpected second place at the Hungarian Grand Prix. The team has improved its 2026 Formula 1 car since the start of the season, but persistent stability, understeer and operating-window limitations continue to restrict both Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar.
Red Bull’s 2026 campaign has not begun as expected in Milton Keynes. The RB22 has so far failed to reproduce the combination of performance and driveability delivered by the team’s dominant 2024 car, leaving Red Bull behind Mercedes, Ferrari and McLaren during the opening half of the championship.
Red Bull RB22 limited by narrow operating window
The RB22’s difficulties appear to be linked to an extremely narrow operating window. Even a small change in track conditions or minor damage can move the car away from its ideal balance, making its behaviour difficult for the drivers to predict.
Both Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar have regularly expressed frustration over team radio about the car’s balance, gear management and general lack of stability. Max Verstappen’s complaints were again evident during the Hungarian weekend, when an unaired radio message revealed his frustration in traffic.
Despite those difficulties, Max Verstappen produced a surprising second-place finish at the Hungaroring. The result exceeded Red Bull’s expectations, but it did not disguise the fundamental weaknesses that Pierre Waché believes are still limiting the car.
“I think that, as with every racing car, you notice certain limitations in the way the driver can use the car and its load,” Pierre Waché said. “The characteristics of the car limit what you can do in terms of set-up and trying to rebalance the car.
“Clearly, as with every car, we have some limitations in terms of stability on corner entry and understeer in the middle of the corner, and we try to work around those areas by using certain mechanical tools.”
Pierre Waché identifies Red Bull’s early mechanical problem
Red Bull also began the season with insufficient aerodynamic load compared with its main competitors. That deficit was compounded by a mechanical issue that prevented the drivers from receiving clear feedback through the steering.
“As for the problem we had with the car at the beginning of the season, we were clearly missing some load compared with our rivals,” Pierre Waché explained.
“We also had some mechanical problems, which meant that the driver could not feel the car properly through the steering, and we corrected that issue early on.”
Resolving the steering problem improved the drivers’ confidence, but the underlying aerodynamic and balance limitations have remained. Red Bull can occasionally bring the RB22 into a competitive window, yet maintaining that performance across different circuits and conditions has proved far more difficult.
Isack Hadjar has also had to adapt to those characteristics during his first season with the senior team. His development and the progress made alongside Max Verstappen were examined in an assessment of Isack Hadjar’s Red Bull campaign at the summer break.
Red Bull progress significant but still below expectations
Despite the continuing difficulties, Pierre Waché praised Red Bull for the steps it has taken in its attempt to avoid a first winless Formula 1 season since 2015.
“I think the main thing is that we started from behind and, for sure, we have made progress,” Pierre Waché said. “I believe the team has done a very good job of progressing and reaching the position we are in now.
“Obviously, we are not yet where we want to be but, as Adrian said, you try to do your best, understand what is not working and what you can improve, and only then do you evaluate where you are.
“The most important thing, however, is that the progress we have made as a team has been significant.”
Red Bull’s improvements have allowed Max Verstappen to remain involved in podium battles, but the team has yet to produce the consistency required to fight regularly for victories. The current Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship standings illustrate the ground the Dutchman has lost during the first half of the season.
Did Red Bull’s 2025 title fight delay the RB22?
Many observers have linked Red Bull’s current difficulties to the limited amount of development time available for its 2026 project during the previous season. Max Verstappen remained involved in the 2025 Drivers’ Championship fight against McLaren’s Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri until the final round, forcing Red Bull to continue directing resources and updates towards the RB21 late into the campaign.
That commitment may have affected preparations for the RB22, although Pierre Waché declined to draw a firm conclusion when asked whether the extended 2025 title fight had compromised the current car.
“It is difficult to say,” he replied. “In the end, I think the others simply did a very good job.
“For sure, we fought until the end and, like the other team, McLaren, I think both of us are a little behind compared with what we achieved last year.”
McLaren also entered the new regulatory era below its previous level but has recently accelerated its development. Its major Budapest package delivered a significant step, with the scale of McLaren’s Hungary upgrade surprising Mercedes.
Max Verstappen’s future adds pressure before Zandvoort
Pierre Waché’s admission about the RB22’s structural limitations will provide little reassurance to Max Verstappen as Formula 1 enters its summer break. The four-time world champion’s performance-related Red Bull exit clause is widely reported to have become available, adding further attention to his future with the team.
Speculation has already intensified following holiday photographs involving Max Verstappen and Toto Wolff, although there has been no confirmation that the images were connected to formal negotiations.
All eyes will therefore be on Red Bull when the season resumes at Zandvoort for Max Verstappen’s home Grand Prix. The complete 2026 Dutch Grand Prix schedule covers the first weekend after the summer break.
Red Bull will be under pressure to provide concrete answers in the Netherlands. More than home pride will be at stake: the team must restore its technical credibility, demonstrate that the RB22 can continue improving and strengthen the case for Max Verstappen to remain at Milton Keynes for the long term.
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