Red Bull chief Wache agrees with Verstappen: 'You can't do that anymore'

Verstappen gets support from Red Bull chief Wache

As Newey predicted well before the current F1 season, the field is getting closer together as a result of there being less room to choose different directions when developing the car. Verstappen also noted earlier that this was the case.

Asked by Motorsport.com about the Dutchman's analysis, Waché says he agrees. The technical director says the current regulations are heavily based on aerodynamics, given the large role ground effect plays in the current cars. The 49-year-old Frenchman explains that it is only possible to create downforce if the car is close to the ground in terms of ride height. This limits what a team can do mechanically.

"You can't do a lot of things under the current regulations. You cannot make the ride height as high now, as it is less efficient with this type of car. Everyone works in the same direction, and therefore, with the cars, you all see convergence towards the same solution," Waché says.

As a result, the differences between F1 teams were already extremely small, but until this year Red Bull still enjoyed a considerable lead over the rest. Meanwhile, the Austrian team has to compete with McLaren, Mercedes and Ferrari, with the teams from Woking and Brackley in particular being faster on several occasions recently.

This article was written in collaboration with Olly Darcy