Red Bull continues trying to regain ground in the 2026 Formula 1 season. Although the new engine has positively surprised part of the paddock, the chassis performance still raises concerns within the team after these first stages of the calendar.
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The team brought its first major upgrade of the year to the Japanese GP, but Max Verstappen stated in Suzuka that he practically did not notice any difference in the car’s behavior. The situation reignited doubts about the correlation between wind tunnel and track, a topic that has followed the team for years.
Even after the package introduced in Miami met the simulated expectations, technical director Pierre Wache avoided showing full confidence in the current development process. “We are going in the right direction, but we still have the same tool and the same problems,” he told Motorsport.com.
According to Wache, Red Bull remains limited by the use of its old wind tunnel. “We are trying to maximize what we have and we will see what happens with the rest. But we have a new tool coming soon and I hope it will allow us to take another step,” he added.
The new facility mentioned by the Frenchman is being built on the team’s campus in Milton Keynes. However, it is not expected to be operational in 2026. “We hope it will be running early next year,” he explained.
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Christian Horner has described Red Bull’s current wind tunnel as “a Cold War relic” several times. The team principal also compared working in the nearly 70-year-old facility to “looking at two different clocks,” referring to the frequent correlation failures between the data obtained and the actual performance on track.
Despite the limitations, Red Bull managed to present a package considered efficient in Miami, including its own interpretation of the “Macarena” wing and completely revised sidepods. Wache revealed that these changes had been in development since the Bahrain tests and explained that part of the updates had to be brought forward after the cancellation of the Middle East races in April.
Now, the team is preparing new steps for the upcoming stages. A small package will be taken to Montreal, while a more significant update is expected for the start of the European phase of the season. The goal also includes finally reaching the car’s minimum weight at the Austrian GP.
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