Red Bull director broke his promise that they would be ‘a second faster’ than Racing Bulls in 2026

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Red Bull technical director Pierre Wache ‘boasted’ that they would be a second faster than sister team Racing Bulls this season, it has been revealed.

After three races, Red Bull are just two points clear of Racing Bulls in the constructors’ standings. Liam Lawson (10 points) and Arvid Lindblad (four) are both ahead of Isack Hadjar in the drivers’ championship.

Lindblad even dumped Max Verstappen out of qualifying at the end of Q2 in Japan. Up to this point, the average gap between the lead Red Bull and lead Racing Bulls over a single lap is around 0.56 seconds.

Who would win: Liam Lawson in the Red Bull or Max Verstappen in the Racing Bulls?

We're talking 2026 cars here…

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Red Bull have been upstaged by Racing Bulls so far in 2026

According to F1-Insider, Wache is coming under ‘immense pressure’ at Red Bull already. 80% of the deficit to pacesetters Mercedes has been put down to the chassis, which inevitably reflects poorly on the Frenchman.

Red Bull’s car is overweight, potentially by as much as 12kg. That in itself is costing them four-tenths per lap.

• READ MORE: Karun Chandhok wants to see Max Verstappen drive the Racing Bulls car after Red Bull struggles

Wache told colleagues last December that the RB22 would be ‘a second faster’ than the 2026 Racing Bulls car – a significant comparison because both race with the same power unit. He hasn’t lived up to that self-imposed target.

Indeed, one Red Bull insider even told the publication that Verstappen ‘would start further up the grid’ if he switched to the VCARB03. The four-time world champion hasn’t qualified higher than eighth so far.

Disagreements between Wache and Craig Skinner saw the chief designer quit on the eve of the new season. The former has apparently ‘lost the trust of his employees’.

Miami Grand Prix upgrade could decide Pierre Wache’s Red Bull future

Red Bull are planning an ‘extensive upgrade package’ for the Miami GP at the start of next month to try and escape the midfield and join the fight at the front.

If those upgrades ‘flop’, the feeling is that Wache’s days at Milton Keynes will be numbered. The team have already lost a litany of key figures but many have left voluntarily, even if Christian Horner is an obvious exception.

There were rumours last year that Verstappen’s camp had lost confidence in Wache, but that was before the team turned their season around with a game-changing upgrade. It’s unclear where the team’s superstar driver currently stands on their technical chief.