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

Since the new regulations came into force in the 2022 Formula 1 season, there is less room for the cars to develop in different directions than before. This was stated by Max Verstappen and Adrian Newey, among others. Pierre Waché, technical director at Red Bull Racing, agrees with that analysis.

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.