RB22 chassis flaws: Miami updates critical for Pierre Waché’s future as Red Bull technical director. Red Bull’s technical director Pierre Waché faces growing pressure after a difficult start to 2026.

Red Bull RB22 under scrutiny

The start of Red Bull’s 2026 season has fallen far short of expectations. Across the first three Grands Prix, the team’s best finish was Max Verstappen’s sixth place in Melbourne. Dissatisfaction is particularly high regarding the RB22 chassis, and a revealing report from German outlet F1-Insider sheds light on the situation: “Red Bull sources believe they are one second off the pace, with 0.8 of that second attributed to the chassis and only 0.2 to the engine.”

Both Verstappen and Isack Hadjar have described the RB22 as difficult to drive, increasing pressure on French technical director Pierre Waché.

Waché’s position at risk

The F1-Insider report confirms that Waché’s future at Red Bull is more precarious than ever. According to the report, the French technical director has reportedly lost the confidence of his team, prompting internal criticism: “He had boasted that his car would be one second faster than the Racing Bulls. Now, not only is the Racing Bulls equally fast, but it is also easier to drive and more predictable.” An insider added, “With a Racing Bulls, Max would definitely start further up the grid.”

Miami could be decisive

The departure of chief designer Craig Skinner in mid-February has also been linked to disagreements with Pierre Waché. Adding to the pressure, updates introduced at Suzuka worsened the RB22 instead of improving it. According to F1-Insider, “The Miami Grand Prix could already be a turning point for Pierre Waché: if the upgrade package fails again, his days at Red Bull could be numbered.”

The internal climate at Red Bull Racing has therefore shifted from one of dominance to one of intense scrutiny. The technical flaws of the RB22 have exposed deep rifts within the engineering team, placing Pierre Waché in a vulnerable position as the 2026 season progresses. As the paddock heads to Miami, all eyes will be on the performance of the updated Red Bull chassis. Should the updates fail to bridge the gap to the front-runners, the team may be forced into a major leadership restructure to save their championship aspirations. The “Waché era” at Milton Keynes is facing its ultimate test.