Formula 1
Red Bull: Active aero should not be treated as "patch" for wider F1 car problems
Formula 1 must not treat active aerodynamics as a quick “patch” for bigger problems with the proposed 2026 car concept, according to Red Bull technical director Pierre Wache.
Matt Kew Alex Kalinauckas
Edited: Jan 10, 2024, 3:05 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The 2026 engine rules increase the reliance on the electrified part of the hybrid powertrain - it will produce 50% of total power - while the expensive Motor Generator Unit–Heat has been ditched.
But initial data supplied to teams led to fears of 'Frankenstein cars', with Max Verstappen claiming he was downshifting on straights in simulator runs to compensate for massive power drop-offs.
As such, F1 is expected to adopt active front and rear wings for the chassis technical regulations in a bid to reduce drag.
But Wache warns that these quick fixes, with the engine framework dictating car design, must not distract the championship from addressing the deeper-rooted issues.
Speaking exclusively to Motorsport.com about the straight-line capabilities of the next-generation cars, he said: "The speed is going down and the feeling is not so nice.
"The FIA works with the teams on how this energy will be deployed to make it less annoying for the driver and to have a better speed profile throughout the lap.
"Plus, they also work on the car characteristics to have less drag and less downforce. By having less downforce, you recover more energy because you spend more time in the corners and in the braking zones, and then you spend less time on straights."
Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images
Pierre Wache, Race Engineer, Red Bull Racing, Helmut Marko, Consultant, Red Bull Racing, in the garage
Asked about the role active aerodynamics can play, Wache replied: "You cannot put patch on patch on patch to achieve something. You have to look at the problem with a bigger view and say, 'How do I sort this out and how do I solve my problem? What car characteristic do I need to achieve something?'
"If you need a patch to solve some things, you can still do that afterwards. But you don't start with a patch first. Otherwise, it never works."
Wache also warned that the more aerodynamic devices relied upon, the harder it will be for F1 to chase a desired 50kg weight saving for 2026.
It has been suggested that F1 could move away from the proposed 50:50 power split to increase the emphasis on the 1.6-litre turbocharged internal combustion engine.
But the FIA has no plans to pursue this and would face backlash from engine manufacturers who are already spending on research and development.
"The problem is that the design time and the development time of an engine are longer than the chassis," explained Wache. "So, to change the concept of the ICE, the battery and the electrical power starts to be very difficult for them by now.
"But the thing is that they didn't think through the full concept [of these new regulations] at the same time. First they defined the engine regulations and now we have to cope with that on the chassis side to compensate for the issue we have."
Additional reporting: Ronald Vording
Read Also:
Formula 1FIA wants to avoid weight "haggling" with F1 2026 rules
Formula 1Revealed: The FIA's plans for "nimble" 2026 F1 cars and moveable aero
Formula 1The key ingredients changing as F1's 2026 engine war shapes up
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Who are the oldest F1 drivers, world champions and winners?
Next article AlphaTauri's Milton Keynes shift critical to its F1 success, says Bayer
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Matt Kew
Marko suggests Perez's improved F1 form because 2025 contract at stake
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Marko suggests Perez's improved F1 form because 2025 contract at stake
Russell explains how low-fuel runs expose Mercedes F1 inconsistency
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Russell explains how low-fuel runs expose Mercedes F1 inconsistency
Leclerc: No answer for "once in a season" Japan F1 qualifying struggle
Formula 1
Formula 1
Japanese GP
Leclerc: No answer for "once in a season" Japan F1 qualifying struggle
Latest news
Jorge Martin: “I don’t feel I will struggle anymore” in MotoGP title run-in
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Indonesian GP
24 min
Jorge Martin: “I don’t feel I will struggle anymore” in MotoGP title run-in
"Extremely difficult": Calendar clashes threaten Marco Wittmann's DTM future
DTM
DTM DTM 30 min
"Extremely difficult": Calendar clashes threaten Marco Wittmann's DTM future
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe