Can Red Bull fix its straight-line speed deficit before 2025? That’s the burning question after Max Verstappen openly criticized the team’s rear wing setup during the 2024 Formula 1 season. Now, Red Bull’s Technical Director Pierre Wache has hinted that the team is open to making adjustments—but only if it makes sense under the cost cap.
With one year left in the current regulations, does Red Bull risk falling behind on power circuits like Monza and Las Vegas again? Or will they double down on their current philosophy and ride out 2025?
Verstappen Frustrated Over Red Bull’s Drag Issues
Red Bull opted against using an ultra-low downforce rear wing at Monza and Las Vegas last year, unlike their rivals. This decision infuriated Verstappen, who felt that it severely compromised his race weekends at both venues.
🔥 Verstappen’s blunt take on the situation:
🗣️ “It feels a bit like we throw away two race weekends like this because you definitely lose too much on the straights.”
🗣️ “We would have liked to have a lower wing, a lower-downforce wing, or at least a different shape, a more efficient shape.”
Verstappen finished sixth in Monza and fifth in Vegas, with Red Bull suffering a 7 KPH straight-line speed deficit on the long straights in Nevada. That’s an alarming issue when Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes are closing the gap.
Red Bull’s Response: Can They Fix It?
🚨 Pierre Wache’s verdict on Verstappen’s concerns:
✅ Red Bull will analyze its low-drag rear wing concept
✅ Budget cap constraints could limit development
✅ There’s no guarantee a low-drag wing would be more effective
Wache acknowledged Verstappen’s frustration but pointed out that not all low-drag wings work equally well on every car.
💡 Wache’s key question: “If you find a special shape for Monza and Vegas but it is one tenth slower, then why would you take it?”
This suggests that Red Bull won’t gamble on a drastic overhaul unless it’s a clear-cut advantage.
Budget Cap Pressures: The Red Bull Conundrum
💰 Under F1’s budget cap, teams must carefully allocate resources. Red Bull, having dominated 2022 and 2023, previously got away with spending development tokens elsewhere. But in 2024, Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes caught up—leaving Red Bull vulnerable at high-speed circuits.
Now, the team faces a dilemma:
🔴 Invest in a low-drag rear wing to compete at Monza and Vegas
🔴 Focus resources on 2026 regulations and ride out the final year of the current era
Wache suggested that Red Bull might tweak their 2025 package but won’t overhaul their concept unless there’s a clear performance gain.
Will Red Bull Close the Gap at Power Circuits?
Red Bull has a choice to make. If they ignore Verstappen’s concerns, Ferrari and McLaren could dominate Monza and Vegas again. If they spend resources on a solution, they risk wasting development on a minor upgrade instead of 2026.
🔮 Prediction: Expect Red Bull to experiment with rear wing adjustments but not commit to a full redesign—unless early 2025 results force their hand.
What do you think? Should Red Bull prioritize straight-line speed for 2025 or focus on the long-term future?
