During Formula 1 pre-season testing, discussions in the paddock are still heavily focused on power units. This time, Red Bull has distanced itself from the controversy, with technical director Pierre Waché openly admitting that his team is currently trailing behind Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren based on the data gathered during the Bahrain F1 tests.
The atmosphere in Bahrain is far from calm. At the center of the debate is the issue surrounding the Mercedes power unit, which has been accused of exploiting a grey area in the regulations by increasing the compression ratio through specific cold control modes. Addressing the matter directly, Pierre Waché acknowledged the performance gap highlighted during testing, particularly in comparison with Mercedes and Ferrari.
Until just a few days ago, the FIA did not appear willing to modify its verification procedures, a situation that would have played into the hands of the Brackley-based team. However, Red Bull’s shift in stance has significantly altered the political balance within the paddock. The Milton Keynes outfit has aligned itself with Ferrari, Audi and Honda, effectively isolating Mercedes in the ongoing debate.
Toto Wolff and George Russell have shown clear frustration over how the situation has developed, attempting to redirect the media spotlight toward Red Bull. The British driver even stated that he would have no issue if the Austrian team were to face penalties.
Ferrari and Mercedes impress Red Bull
Pierre Waché, Red Bull’s technical director, responded to those remarks by underlining that his team does not consider itself the current technical benchmark in Formula 1. “It’s difficult to say. We are certainly not the reference. It is quite clear that the top three teams, Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren, are ahead of us, based on our analysis, and we are behind,” he explained.
According to Waché, the team’s internal analysis indicates a deficit compared to its main rivals, even though it remains extremely complicated to accurately assess the true competitive order until comparable conditions are seen on track.
“It’s difficult to judge the others because everyone’s run plan, fuel load and power modes are hard to predict. But at the moment, our analysis tells us that it would be wrong to spend too much time focusing on that. We are trying to concentrate on how we operate ourselves.”
The Red Bull technical chief then highlighted Ferrari and Mercedes as the teams that have impressed the most so far during F1 testing in Bahrain. “Especially in low-speed corners, the traction looks quite good. However, Ferrari and Mercedes, particularly on low-fuel runs, have impressed us a lot with their straight-line speed.”
Red Bull weaknesses exposed in Bahrain testing
Waché also admitted that some weaknesses of the single-seater remain unresolved. “Just like last year, medium- and low-speed corners continue to be our weak point, which needs improvement.” These words confirm that, according to the team’s internal evaluation, the RB20 still has several areas that require further development before the start of the Formula 1 season.
For now, however, no one is willing to make bold predictions. As Pierre Waché himself emphasized, only the first race weekend in Australia will provide a clear picture of the true competitive hierarchy. In the meantime, teams will return to the track in Bahrain from February 18 to 20 for the final pre-season testing session. Only then will more concrete indications begin to emerge, both regarding the technical battle on track and the growing political tensions off it.
Pierre Waché’s candid admission suggests that Red Bull’s transition into a full-scale manufacturer with Ford hasn’t been without its growing pains. While the team’s decision to join Ferrari and Honda in protesting Mercedes’ engine indicates they are worried about a power deficit, the “weakness” in low-speed corners suggests a fundamental chassis balance issue that needs solving. With the final test just days away, the pressure is on Milton Keynes to prove that their “analysis” of being behind is merely a case of classic pre-season gamesmanship rather than a genuine crisis.
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