To counter the exodus of senior personnel to rival teams, Red Bull must secure a prominent signing from elsewhere in the Formula 1 grid, according to the latest F1 Show podcast. The unexpected departure of Gianpiero 'GP' Lambiase, Max Verstappen's engineer and the team's head of racing, to McLaren from 2028, marks the latest high-profile exit from the former world champion team since the end of 2023.
Lambiase will join former colleagues Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay at McLaren, while Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley have defected to other teams. The team has also seen the significant departures of Christian Horner as team principal and Helmut Marko from his long-standing advisor role. The Sky Sports F1 panel discussed the situation at Red Bull, which has had a difficult start to the new era, sitting sixth in the Constructors' Championship with just 16 points after three races.
"The key to motivation is winning, and Red Bull don't appear to be on the verge of winning soon, given their car's performance in the first three races," commentator David Croft said. "Laurent Mekies faces a challenging task in transitioning the team from the Christian Horner era to a new one, whether it's under his leadership or Oliver Mintzlaff's. The team has lost numerous staff members, not just high-profile ones, but also those in supporting roles. It's not a case of people abandoning a sinking ship, but rather seeking career success elsewhere.
For years, loyalty to Red Bull, Christian Horner, and the pursuit of championships kept people committed. However, the team is currently experiencing a downturn and needs to recruit new talent. A high-profile signing could be the answer, but it's unclear who that might be. Red Bull previously signed several engine staff from Mercedes when building their engine division from 2021, but rivals have since hired their own long-standing figures.
Karun Chandhok emphasized the importance of culture in maintaining a winning team and atmosphere, citing Red Bull's improvement last year, where they won six out of the last nine Grands Prix. "Clearly, people need more than just success on track. There's been a brain drain, and a cultural shift within the organization. Laurent Mekies and the Red Bull ownership in Austria must figure out how to stop this brain drain and make the team attractive to top talent.
Attracting people from successful teams like Mercedes is crucial. Good people attract other good people, and it's essential to rebuild the team. The departure of 'GP' Lambiase could lead to more staff members leaving, as he may encourage others to join him at McLaren. Sky Sports F1's Karun Chandhok noted that driver relationships, like those between Ross Brawn and Michael Schumacher, are vital in a race team.
However, they are not the only factor. Chandhok suspected Max Verstappen might take a sabbatical from F1, either in 2026, 2027, or 2028, and that it could go either way - like Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso, who missed the sport, or like Mika Hakkinen, who chose to leave the sport behind.
"Adrian Newey and Ross Brawn have shown that top talent can attract other good people. Red Bull needs a big-name signing, not just for their skills, but for the people they will attract. The team must be concerned about this and work to stop the brain drain and rebuild their roster. The Miami Grand Prix, the season's second Sprint weekend, will take place on May 1-3, live on Sky Sports F1.