Wache: Magnitude of Red Bull progress 'not as big as we expected'

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Red Bull technical director Pierre Wache acknowledged that the team's three-day test in Bahrain had not unfolded as seamlessly as hoped, though its car's raw pace appeared promising.

The Milton Keynes-based outfit wrapped up its preparations on Friday at Sakhir with reigning world champion Max Verstappen behind the wheel.

The Dutchman concluded his day second on the timesheets, just 0.021 seconds shy of Mercedes' George Russell, and with a solid mileage of 81 laps.

While Verstappen's pace hinted at the RB21's potential, both he and Wache struck a cautiously optimistic tone, acknowledging teething issues encountered with their new challenger.

As the team dissects data in the two-week gap to F1's opening round in Melbourne, the focus is clear: refine the car's performance and unlock its untapped promise.

A Day of Mixed Fortunes

Reflecting on the week's events, Wache offered his candid assessment of the team's performance, noting that uncooperative weather added a wrinkle, with conditions less representative of Bahrain's usual heat.

Still, the Frenchman saw value in the struggle.

"It was not as smooth a test as we expected and the team expected, but it is better to find some problems here than later down the line and it is why we are here, to understand the car," he said.

"We tried to explore the potential of the car and tried to understand how it responds to different set-ups, and I think we more or less achieved that."

For Red Bull, the hiccups – evident in garage tweaks throughout Friday's running – were a chance to probe the RB21's limits before the stakes rise.

Verstappen's Measured Confidence

Verstappen echoed Wache's pragmatism, balancing satisfaction with a hunger for improvement.

"I think we had a decent day today, there were a few little problems but overall, we completed quite a bit of what we wanted to do," he said.

His 81 laps included a late spin at Turn 1, but the four-time champion remained unfazed.

"I think it wasn't bad but at the same time there is still a bit of work to do. However, it is what we expected."

With a fastest lap of 1m29.566s, Verstappen proved the RB21 has pace, yet he knows the finer details matter.

"We will keep on working and keep on trying to improve," he added, eyeing the Australian Grand Prix as the real litmus test.

An Uncertain Pecking Order

Both Wache and Verstappen hesitated to peg Red Bull's standing among its rivals.

"I think it's very difficult to see a starting order for Melbourne across the grid right now," Wache noted.

"You see that four teams look quite quick, including us, but we didn't look too much at other teams, we tried to focus on our programme."

Verstappen agreed: "It is difficult to tell where everyone's pace is, so there is still a bit of work to do for us."

With McLaren, Ferrari, and Mercedes flashing speed in Bahrain, Red Bull's inward focus underscores a methodical build-up to the season—less about flexing now, more about peaking later.

The Road to Melbourne

Despite the progress, Wache admitted to lingering frustrations.

"I am not as happy as I could be because the car did not respond how we wanted at times," he said. "But it is going in the right direction, just maybe the magnitude of the direction was not as big as we expected."

It's a sentiment Verstappen shares, albeit with optimism: "Hopefully, as we go into Melbourne, we will learn a bit more by going through all the data and see where we are at."

As Red Bull heads to Australia, the RB21's teething troubles are a work in progress – but with Verstappen's talent and the team's resolve, they're banking on ironing out the kinks before lights out.

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