According to Sky Sports F1's Karun Chandhok, Red Bull must secure a prominent signing from another Formula 1 team to counter the recent trend of rivals poaching their senior personnel. The unexpected departure of Gianpiero 'GP' Lambiase, Max Verstappen's engineer and the team's head of racing, to McLaren in 2028, marks the latest high-profile exit from the former world champion team since 2023.
Lambiase will join former colleagues Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay at McLaren, while Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley have defected to rival teams. The exit of Christian Horner as team principal and Helmut Marko from his advisor role last year has also contributed to the 'brain drain' of long-serving talent.
Chandhok emphasized that new team boss Laurent Mekies and Red Bull's Austrian hierarchy must address this issue to prevent further losses. He noted that despite the team's success on the track, including winning six out of the last nine Grands Prix, the brain drain persists due to a cultural shift within the organization.
Chandhok stressed that attracting good people is crucial, as they, in turn, attract other talented individuals. He cited the examples of Adrian Newey and Ross Brawn, who have previously taken talented teams with them to new roles.
Chandhok believes that Red Bull needs a big-name signing, not only for the skills they bring but also for the people they will attract. Sky Sports F1 commentator David Croft also expressed concerns about the number of staff leaving Red Bull, including those in key roles and underneath.
He emphasized that it's not a matter of people abandoning a failing team but rather seeking new opportunities. The situation has led to speculation about the future of Max Verstappen, with Chandhok suggesting that the driver's relationships with his team are important but not the only factor in his decision-making.
Red Bull is currently sixth in the Constructors' Championship with 16 points and will resume the season in Miami in two weeks' time.