Pierre Waché came under heavy criticism when Red Bull Racing failed to deliver a competitive car for Max Verstappen. However, that seems to be a thing of the past, with the RB21 once fighting at the front of the grid. Much of the credit goes to Waché himself – the team’s technical director, who deserves more recognition than he often receives, working quietly in the shadow of the new team principal, Laurent Mekies.
As soon as a session or Grand Prix is over, one never has to wait long for Waché. The Frenchman typically trots out from behind the Red Bull Racing pit box to smoke a cigarette on the top floor of the nearest motorhome. It is undoubtedly a habit – but perhaps a way of easing the tension that comes with the job.
Waché found the solutions for Red Bull
Until the summer break, Waché often looked tense as he hurried through the paddock wards. In recent weeks, that anxious expression has been replaced with a smile, as the performance of the Red Bull team have dramatically improved. After much trying, Red Bull has found the right direction for the RB21, backed by effective updates – and Waché deserves the credit for that.
While most of the spotlights during Red Bull’s resurgence have fallen on Max Verstappen and Mekies, Waché's contribution is no less significant. It was the Frenchman, together with the technical team, that developed the right updates that restored the RB21 competitiveness – even before Mekies took over from Christian Horner.
The pressure on Waché in recent months has been immense. Many quietly questioned whether the mild-mannered engineer was good enough to succeed icon Adrian Newey - even though that Brit had receded into the background for years.
Waché reaped the fruits of his labour
The fact that Red Bull had no idea how to find the car's 'sweet-spot' for a long time did not seem to speak in Waché's favour. However, the Frenchman continued to work tirelessly, and there is now a reward for his hard work. Red Bull even has a chance of the world title with Verstappen again, though the comeback seems to be slightly too late.
However, the real test for Waché will come next season when the new technical regulations come into effect. Red Bull was on top of it the last time there was a regulatory change and had the strongest car in the F1 field for years. If Waché can deliver again, the Frenchman’s place among the greatest technical directors Formula 1 has ever seen will be firmly secured.
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