Red Bull’s Technical Director, Pierre Waché, described the criticisms directed at him and the team during the past season as unjustified, despite the team losing the Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship.
After Adrian Newey’s departure, the symbolic figure of Red Bull’s successes, and his move to Aston Martin by the end of the year, Waché became the team’s technical point of reference.
The transition to the RB20
The RB20 represented a significant change from the RB19, a car that had set extraordinary records the previous year. Its development, entrusted to Pierre Waché, began after Adrian Newey retired from his operational leadership role in May, following the Miami Grand Prix.
Despite a complicated period, during which Max Verstappen went through a ten-race winless streak, the Dutch driver still managed to secure his fourth consecutive World Championship title. However, Red Bull suffered from the dip in form of teammate Sergio Perez, thus missing out on the Constructors’ Championship. McLaren, with an exceptional season, won the Constructors’ Championship for the first time in 26 years.
Pierre Waché’s resilience
Speaking to RacingNews365, Pierre Waché explained how he dealt with the criticisms and difficulties of the season: “I don’t follow them. They affect me enough when we don’t get good results. I don’t need anyone to tell me I’m doing a bad job; I’m my harshest critic.”
He emphasized the impact these situations had on the team: “It’s tough for the team because everyone worked with the same dedication as last year, if not more.”
Pierre Waché also pointed out how essential it was to turn difficulties into growth opportunities. “A disappointing result is always positive if you understand what went wrong,” he said. He mentioned the Monza Grand Prix as an example, where the team used the race as an opportunity to develop innovative solutions.
A major challenge for the future
2025 presents itself as a crucial year for Red Bull. The first part of the season will be dedicated to developing the RB21, while the team is already working on the 2026 car in preparation for the radical regulatory changes affecting both the power units and the chassis.
However, Pierre Waché is confident in his ability to face these challenges: “In this industry, without strong determination, you wouldn’t last long,” he concluded.
Leave a Reply