Red Bull Racing is entering a new era with significant changes to its technical and managerial team.
With the departure of two iconic figures, Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley, many are questioning whether the Milton Keynes-based team can maintain its competitiveness in Formula 1. However, Christian Horner, the team principal, remains confident: he believes these exits signify not a decline but a natural evolution for the team.
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Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley: The end of an era of dominance in F1
Adrian Newey, the mastermind behind so many of Red Bull’s successes, announced his departure during the 2024 Miami Grand Prix. While he worked on Red Bull’s RB17 hypercar project, he was no longer directly involved in F1 projects when he transitioned to Aston Martin. Meanwhile, Jonathan Wheatley, a strategic cornerstone since the team’s early days, took on a new challenge as the sporting director for Audi’s F1 team. These two figures, synonymous with the Vettel titles from 2010 to 2013 and Verstappen’s dominance from 2021 to 2024, leave behind a significant gap. Yet, Horner insists Red Bull is well-prepared. “These departures, while significant, don’t mean a complete rebuild,” said Horner. “It’s an evolution, not an overhaul. It’s part of a plan that has been in place for quite some time.” His remarks reflect confidence in the team’s structure and its deep pool of talent.
A strategic internal reshuffle
To address these departures, Red Bull has promoted several key team members:
- Gianpiero Lambiase, Verstappen’s race engineer, now heads race operations while continuing to work with the Dutch driver.
- Stephen Knowles, a former strategy engineer, has been appointed as the FIA liaison, ensuring regulatory compliance.
- Richard Wolverson has been promoted to head of race operations.
These promotions highlight Red Bull’s commitment to agility and fostering internal talent. Horner emphasized how these changes provide opportunities for team members to shine: “If an organization remains stagnant, it fails to move forward. These changes allow many experienced members of our team to step into the spotlight,” said Horner.
Targeting the 2026 F1 season: An ambitious challenge
Rather than being distracted by recent changes, Red Bull Racing is already focused on its ultimate goal: adapting to the new technical regulations and introducing its own power unit in 2026. Horner described this project as the team’s most ambitious undertaking yet. This long-term vision allows Red Bull to mitigate the immediate impacts of Newey and Wheatley’s departures while preparing for a future that could redefine its position in the Formula 1 paddock. With rivals like McLaren and Ferrari surpassing Red Bull in the 2024 Constructors’ Championship, expectations for 2025 are high. Nevertheless, with a reorganized team and a solid plan, the Milton Keynes squad appears determined to reclaim its former glory.
This article explores the recent changes at Red Bull Racing, the impact of Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley’s departures, and the team’s bold strategy to remain competitive as they prepare for the challenges of 2026.
Images: © Red Bull Content pool
