The French technical director of Red Bull, Pierre Waché, is under scrutiny following the Anglo-Austrian team’s challenging start to the 2026 Formula 1 season. The Scuderia and its competitors are observing closely as the situation unfolds.
Red Bull, a problematic chassis
After the race in Suzuka, both Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar openly expressed their dissatisfaction with a Red Bull that fell far short of expectations. Surprisingly, the criticism was not directed at Red Bull’s in-house power unit, which remains competitive, but rather at the car’s chassis. Hadjar’s statements were clear and left little room for interpretation: “The car was really undrivable, even dangerous. We have a good power unit. The engine is fine, it’s the chassis that is terrible. It’s slow in corners.”
It is no secret in the paddock that the RB22 was born slightly overweight, with reports suggesting it carried roughly ten extra kilograms compared to expectations. This additional weight exacerbated handling issues and compromised the car’s agility in corners.
Is Pierre Waché to blame?
After three Grand Prix, Red Bull has managed to collect just 16 points—tied with Alpine and two fewer than Haas—highlighting a disappointing start for a team accustomed to dominance. Consequently, the position of technical director Pierre Waché seems anything but secure. According to Dutch motorsport site GPBlog, Waché is “increasingly under pressure,” and “his future at Red Bull becomes more uncertain every day.”
The RB22 is notably the first Red Bull car designed without direct guidance from Adrian Newey and fully under Pierre Waché’s responsibility—a fact that cannot be overlooked. The team’s ownership may well place the responsibility for the early-season failures squarely on his shoulders, further intensifying the scrutiny on the French engineer.
Ferrari observes closely
Italian motorsport outlet AutoRacer.it recently reminded readers that in the past, Frederic Vasseur had considered bringing Pierre Waché to Ferrari. The idea was to have him collaborate with Loic Serra, with whom he had previously worked during their tenure at Michelin. This prior connection hints at a potential “return of interest” from Ferrari in the current unstable situation at Red Bull.
The publication posed the question: “With the current instability and a Max Verstappen uncertain about his future, could this be the right moment to make a move?” Ferrari, always strategic in its approach to acquiring top talent, appears ready to monitor the unfolding scenario closely, evaluating whether Pierre Waché could add value to the Scuderia’s technical team and future car development projects.
As the 2026 season progresses, Red Bull’s struggles and the mounting pressure on Pierre Waché remain a focal point in the Formula 1 paddock. Meanwhile, Ferrari’s attention to these developments underscores the ongoing chess game of technical expertise, team dynamics, and potential personnel shifts that could shape the championship’s outcome in the coming months.
