Max Verstappen is set to face a significant shake-up in his technical team for the 2026 season. According to De Telegraaf, the Dutch driver will lose three of his key engineers, who have accepted more attractive roles or greater responsibilities with other Formula 1 teams.
Performance engineer Tom Hart has agreed to join Williams, while engine engineer David Mart will reunite with Jonathan Wheatley at Audi. Michael Manning, another crucial figure in Verstappen’s technical entourage who had previously considered leaving at the end of 2024 but stayed on through 2025, has now decided to conclude his time at Red Bull.
This wave of departures comes amid speculation about Gianpiero Lambiase’s future. It appears he will be promoted within Red Bull to a more managerial role, reducing his on-track responsibilities. This shift would effectively separate the long-standing Verstappen-Lambiase pairing, marking the end of a key working relationship that has contributed to many of Verstappen’s successes.
As a result, Max Verstappen will start 2026 with a partially renewed team, requiring adjustments and new collaborations to maintain the high level of performance Red Bull has enjoyed in recent years. While the departures create challenges, they also open opportunities for fresh talent and different perspectives within the Milton Keynes squad.
For Verstappen, these departures represent a loss of continuity at a critical juncture. The relationship between a driver and their performance, engine, and control engineers is built on years of shared data and trust. While Red Bull remains a powerhouse, rebuilding this “inner sanctum” ahead of the 2026 engine reset will be a significant hurdle for the team to overcome as they look to maintain their competitive edge in a new era of the sport.
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