Red Bull announced a technical reorganization as it confronts a poor start to the 2026 season and a string of senior departures. High-profile moves include Gianpiero “GP” Lambiase, who has agreed to join McLaren in 2028; the recent exits of Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay to McLaren; and earlier departures of Adrian Newey, Jonathan Wheatley and, in 2025, Christian Horner and Helmut Marko. Sky Sports F1 pundits warned of a widening “brain drain” and Karun Chandhok urged technical chief Laurent Mekies and Red Bull’s Austrian ownership to act, suggesting the recruitment of a marquee figure, potentially from Mercedes, to help retain and attract talent.

Red Bull promoted Ben Waterhouse to chief performance and design engineer, reporting to technical director Pierre Wache. Reports conflict on timing, with some saying the change is immediate and others saying it takes effect on July 1. The team approved internal promotions and external hires to manage succession and preserve performance. Andrea Landi will join Red Bull on July 1 as head of performance, joining from Racing Bulls and having previously held senior vehicle-performance roles at Ferrari, and he will report to Waterhouse. The team described the moves as an “evolution” intended to tighten integration between design and vehicle performance and accelerate development.

On the track, Red Bull sits sixth in the Constructors’ Championship with 16 points after three rounds, 119 points behind leaders Mercedes. Both drivers have complained about handling and balance of the R22. Max Verstappen has 12 points, with a season-best finish of sixth in Australia, and Isack Hadjar has four. Red Bull also introduced its first in-house engine this season. With the Miami Grand Prix due May 1-3, the team faces immediate pressure to translate the technical changes into improved competitiveness.

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