Red Bull technical director Pierre Waché has explained why the Milton Keynes-based squad's long-standing correlation issues will not plague the team in 2026.
The six-time F1 constructors' champion has "struggled" with associated problems in recent years due to its wind tunnel being considerably older than its rivals.
Former team principal Christian Horner used to refer to it as a "Cold War relic", and Red Bull has invested significantly in a new one.
Under the previous regulations cycle, the team often found that upgrades developed using the wind tunnel did not align with its CFD work and ultimately failed to deliver the desired outcomes on track.
It facilitated Red Bull slipping back from being dominant double world champions in 2023, with Max Verstappen wiping the floor with the opposition in the drivers' fight, to the Dutchman surrendering his crown to Lando Norris last year, and the team dropping to consecutive third-place finishes in the constructors' standings.
Whilst Red Bull has already fallen from its perch and was comprehensively out-developed by McLaren, in particular, over the past couple of years, Waché does not envisage its correlation problem being as pronounced this year — or an issue at all in the future.
Speaking to the media, including RacingNews365, during pre-season testing in Bahrain, the Frenchman said: "The team struggled a lot with correlation at the end of the last regulations, mainly for two aspects.
"The first one is because the wind tunnel we have is quite old; it's the oldest in the Formula 1 field.
"The second aspect is when the regulations reach a plateau, what you are trying to find is minimal, and the accuracy requirement is very high, then you can go down the wrong path.
"This year, the regulations are new, and the development path is... the data you can find is bigger and is less risky. That doesn't mean there is no risk; there's less risk."
The new wind tunnel is expected to be online and fully operational either later this year or in early 2027, which will allow the current 70-year-old model to be put out to pasture.
Elaborating on the situation, Waché highlighted the extensive time, effort and investment that have been poured into the new facility.
"And to reduce the correlation issue, not yet, but quite soon in the future," the 51-year-old added.
"The team has invested a lot in the new wind tunnel, and to have the best in the entire field."
Also interesting:
Join RacingNews365’s Ian Parkes, Sam Coop and Nick Golding as they look back on last week’s first test in Bahrain and this week’s second test at the same venue. The trio debate Max Verstappen’s criticism of the regulations and whether Formula 1 is facing an identity crisis.
Rather watch the podcast? Then click here!
Don't miss out on any of the Formula 1 action thanks to this handy 2026 F1 calendar that can be easily loaded into your smartphone or PC.
Download the calenderMost read
In this article
Join the conversation!