The shake-up within Red Bull Racing's hierarchy signals a significant transformation at the team that has dominated Formula 1 in recent seasons. With Max Verstappen's race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, stepping into a more senior role and the departure of key figures such as Jonathan Wheatley and Adrian Newey, the team is set for a new chapter.
Leadership Changes at Red Bull Racing
Gianpiero Lambiase, a critical component of Verstappen’s on-track success, will now take on the more encompassing role of Head of Racing. This newly created position will expand Lambiase's responsibilities, overseeing the race, heritage, and car-build teams. Furthermore, he will continue his crucial pit-wall duties alongside Verstappen. Lambiase’s broader responsibilities include handling strategic decisions and sporting regulations, with direct reporting to Red Bull's technical director, Pierre Wache.
Jonathan Wheatley, the outgoing sporting director, has been an essential part of Red Bull Racing, especially in interactions with stewards and raising appeals or protests during race weekends. Wheatley will transition to Sauber as their team principal in early 2025, just before the team's transformation into Audi in 2026. Red Bull has decided against appointing a direct successor to Wheatley's role, opting instead to distribute his responsibilities among other key figures within the team.
Internal Promotions as a Strategy
Red Bull Racing’s approach to filling the gaps created by these departures is telling. The team has chosen to promote from within, widening the responsibilities of experienced staff members. Steve Knowles, previously a senior strategy engineer, will now serve as the acting head of sporting matters, reporting directly to Lambiase. Rich Wolverson has been promoted to head of race team operations, where he will manage the day-to-day activities of the race team. Additionally, Gerrard O'Reilly will take on the role of head of race team support and logistics, ensuring seamless coordination of team operations. Phil Turner, formerly the chief mechanic, will transition to the race team factory operations manager, overseeing crucial back-end factory processes for race day success.
Adrian Newey's Departure
Arguably, the most significant loss for Red Bull Racing is the departure of Adrian Newey, who will join Aston Martin ahead of the 2025 season. Newey’s expertise in car design has been instrumental in Red Bull’s dominance, and his move represents a considerable shift in the technical landscape for the team. This change underscores Red Bull's strategy of internal promotion and flexibility with responsibilities, aiming to mitigate the impact of losing such a pivotal figure.
Aiming for Continued Success
Despite these upheavals, Red Bull Racing's recent track record speaks volumes. The team has secured three consecutive drivers' championships and two successive constructors' championships. With these changes, Red Bull aims to maintain their winning momentum. By promoting from within and redistributing responsibilities among seasoned professionals, Red Bull Racing shows a keen intent to adapt and thrive despite the shifts in their organizational setup.
Max Verstappen and Gianpiero Lambiase’s continued collaboration will likely be a cornerstone of the team’s strategy moving forward. With Lambiase’s deepened involvement in various crucial areas, the synergy between driver and engineer might become an even stronger asset for Red Bull Racing.
As Formula 1 looks towards the 2025 season and the eventual Audi debut in 2026, Red Bull Racing’s internal adjustments and strategic promotions suggest a robust attempt to sustain their competitive edge in an ever-evolving sport. While the loss of key figures like Wheatley and Newey marks the end of an era, the team’s depth of talent and cohesive reorganization marks the beginning of a new chapter aimed at continued dominance on the track.