The Formula 1 world is in turmoil after recent statements by Pierre Waché, the technical director of Red Bull Racing, about the RB21, the car with which Max Verstappen hopes to conquer his fifth world title in 2025. In an exclusive interview with Planetf1, Waché has revealed that Red Bull has chosen a radically different approach in the development of the RB21, despite the fact that the car is at first sight on its predecessor, the RB20. These statements come at a time when the new CEO of Red Bull, after the resignation of Christian Horner earlier this year, has ordered an investigation into the performance of the team and the problems with the RB21. The pressure on Waché and his team is huge, especially after a disappointing 2024 season in which Red Bull lost the constructors’ championship to McLaren.
According to Waché, the RB21 is a complete revision of the concept that Red Bull used in previous years. Although the outside of the car seems comparable to the RB20, the internal systems – such as cooling, suspension and aerodynamics – have been thoroughly adjusted. “We have re -evaluated all the concepts of the car. Under the hood, almost everything has changed to get the properties we wanted,” Waché explained. These adjustments were needed to tease the balance problems that teased the RB20. In 2024, Verstappen repeatedly complained about the unpredictable balance of the car, especially on bumpy circuits such as Monaco and Canada, where the RB20 had difficulty with cerbs and bumps.
The winter tests in Bahrain earlier this year, however, did not bring good news. The RB21 was struggling with reliability problems, and McLaren and Ferrari seemed faster. Waché admitted that Red Bull took a risk by implementing updates for the opening race in Australia, something that few other teams did. “We went all-in to be competitive from the first race,” he said. Yet it turned out that the car was difficult to adjust during the tests, and Verstappen himself expressed its frustration about the lack of grip and the unpredictable handling. This led to speculation that, despite the radical changes, the RB21 still does not have the potential to compete with the top teams.
According to sources, the new CEO of Red Bull, who took over the lead after Horners departure, started an internal investigation to find out the causes of the problems with the RB21. The disappointing performance in Hungary, where Verstappen finished only ninth and finished Racing Bulls behind the sister team, have ringed the alarm bells. Waché is under heavy pressure, especially since he has been full responsibility for the technical team since the departure of Adrian Newey in May 2024. Newey, who for years was the brain behind Red Bulls successes, had only limited influence on the RB21, which meant that Waché had to take the lead in a crucial phase of development.
Another pain that emphasized Waché is the correlation between simulations and the performance on the circuit. In 2024, Red Bull was struggling with a lack of correlation, which meant that the car in the wind tunnel performed differently than on the track. This problem does not seem to be fully resolved. “We don’t have a 100 percent faith in the correlation, but we have to work with the resources we have,” Waché admitted. This lack of trust is worrying, especially since Verstappen has indicated that without significant improvements he will not have a chance of a fifth title in 2025.
Despite the challenges there is also hope. During the Miami Grand Prix, Red Bull made progress with upgrades that improved the balance of the RB21. Verstappen noted that for the first time he had a good feeling in the car in 2025, which resulted in a victory. Waché spoke of a “breakthrough” and emphasized that the team continues to look for ways to make the car more consistent on different circuits. However, with strong competition from McLaren, Ferrari and Mercedes, the question is whether Red Bull can improve the RB21 sufficiently to help Verstappen to help a new title.
The situation at Red Bull remains tense. While Verstappen uses his exceptional talent to mask the shortcomings of the RB21, it is clear that the team stands for a crucial test. The results of the CEO’s investigation and the efforts of Waché and his team will determine whether Red Bull can return to the top in 2025, or whether it will be a lost season for the four -time world champion.
