With Adrian Newey’s departure on the horizon, the responsibility falls on Technical Director Pierre Waché to take the helm of Red Bull’s technical division. The Frenchman, who has been working in Milton Keynes since 2013, shares responsibility for the Austrian team’s Formula 1 cars. However, former driver Ralf Schumacher questions whether Pierre Waché is ready for this responsibility and predicts a few challenging years ahead for Red Bull.
“The team is suffering from the fact that so many people are leaving or want to leave,” said the German. In addition to Adrian Newey, Sporting Director Jonathan Wheatley and Head Strategist Will Courtenay have also chosen roles with competing teams. “It’s not easy to replace such people,” Schumacher explained. Regarding Adrian Newey’s successor, he said, “I have the feeling that Pierre Waché is not yet ready for this task within Red Bull.”
‘Verstappen Makes the Difference’
“He is certainly a brilliant thinker, but he lacks the flair to follow in Adrian Newey’s footsteps,” Ralf Schumacher continued. “He seems to lack the ability to bridge the gap between the driver and an optimal car.” The former driver was undoubtedly referring to the recent problems of Max Verstappen; the Dutchman often struggled with the balance of his RB20 last season.
“Of course, I hope that Red Bull gets the situation under control, but I can’t imagine that they can solve this in the short term,” said the German analyst. “The team is going through a difficult period, especially if Max Verstappen actually decides to leave. In Singapore, it became clear again that he alone makes the difference.” The Dutchman finished second at Marina Bay, while teammate Sergio Pérez had to settle for P10.
