If Max Verstappen is being tempted by other teams, Red Bull is using its best seduction tactics. The four-time world champion has had a season of ups and downs, witnessing notable names leave Milton Keynes in a hurry.
The heaviest departure was that of Adrian Newey, who left the team after twenty years to begin a new adventure at Aston Martin. After him, the sporting director Jonathan Wheatley, another key figure at Red Bull, became the team principal of Sauber/Audi.
The exodus led the Austrian team to undergo an internal restructuring. For example, Gianpiero Lambiase, Max Verstappen’s race engineer, is now the new race manager of Red Bull, while Steve Knowles holds the role of sporting director. In the case of potential penalties, the Dutch driver and his teammate Liam Lawson will need to turn to him.
However, convincing a world champion to stay requires more. According to De Telegraaf, Red Bull has made a “bizarre” move to retain its star driver.
Last year, the team recruited as many as 60 engineers from various teams (including Mercedes) to strengthen the technical department. Each of them will be assigned to different tasks.
No official announcement or major proclamations have been made, but Red Bull’s goal is clear. Behind the major hires is not just an attempt to keep Max Verstappen, but also to prepare the team for 2026 and its collaboration with Ford.
The Dutchman will be required to judge and carefully observe how the situation evolves throughout this season; his future will also depend on how Red Bull reacts.
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