Gianpiero Lambiase is the latest name to say goodbye to Red Bull in Formula 1. Max Verstappen’s race engineer is just the tip of the iceberg of big names who have left the Austrian team in recent years.
Read more F1: Verstappen warned Red Bull years ago about decision in case of Lambiase exit
The team located in Milton Keynes has been facing a complicated period in the category. At the start of the 2026 season, after three rounds, it hasn’t come close to achieving a podium and the four-time Dutch champion appears only ninth in the Drivers’ Championship.
Now, the latest blow is Lambiase’s departure – but it doesn’t happen immediately, as he will join McLaren only in 2028. However, in recent years, a long list of key Red Bull figures has left the team, marking the end of a successful cycle in Formula 1.
The first major departure came back in the 2023 season with Rob Marshall, who had been with the Austrian team since 2006. Serving as chief designer, he played a fundamental role in six Constructors’ Championships alongside Adrian Newey. The Briton ended up going to McLaren, where he is now one of the main names in the papaya team’s comeback.
The second, and one of the most significant departures on the technical front, was Adrian Newey. With Red Bull since 2006, he started as technical chief and was responsible for some of the most dominant cars in Formula 1 history. The announcement of his departure came in 2024 and was finalized in 2025, heading to Aston Martin.
Not just the design genius, the 2024 season also saw Jonathan Wheatley leaving the team from his role as sporting director. In this, the executive went to Sauber to take on the role of team principal, leading the team through the transition to Audi – but this lasted little, as in early 2026 he left the command of the German team for personal reasons.
Read more F1: Lambiase, Verstappen’s engineer, signs with McLaren for 2028
Another, perhaps with a less well-known name but also very relevant, was Will Courtenay. He arrived at Red Bull in the year of its first title, 2010, as head of strategy, and like Marshall, and now Lambiase, left the Austrian team for McLaren, taking on the role of sporting director in 2024.
However, the most unexpected departure came in 2025, right after the British GP. Red Bull announced the dismissal of Christian Horner as team principal and CEO after two decades, making way for the arrival of Laurent Mekies. The British executive was one of the fundamental roles in creating the Red Bull group as it is known today and even the development of the power unit division.
Shortly after, at the end of last year, Helmut Marko was another name who said goodbye to the multi-champion team. Also with the team for 20 years, he held the role of advisor and built the Junior Driver Program, being responsible for discovering names like Sebastian Vettel and Verstappen, in addition to other names on the current grid.
In chronological order, the last to have left was Craig Skinner, chief designer, who had also been in Milton Keynes since 2006.
Read more F1: Piastri bets on independence and promotes adjustments in the team
