Red Bull Racing Reorganizes Leadership Amidst Key Departures
In a significant reshuffle within Red Bull Racing, the team has announced several leadership changes aimed at maintaining its championship-winning momentum. The engineering team is set to see pivotal shifts in roles and responsibilities as the organization braces itself for the departure of key personnel to rival teams.
One of the most noteworthy changes is the promotion of Max Verstappen's race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, to a more senior role. Lambiase will transition from head of race engineering to the newly created position of head of racing. Despite his elevation, Lambiase will maintain his pit-wall duties, supporting Max Verstappen, ensuring the Dutchman continues to benefit from his strategic expertise. In addition to this, Lambiase will report directly to Red Bull's technical director Pierre Wache.
Lambiase’s expanded role will now include overseeing the race, heritage, and car-build teams. He will also be responsible for matters related to the strategy group and sporting regulations. Such a comprehensive set of duties aims to consolidate Red Bull Racing’s competitive edge while ensuring that the team remains at the pinnacle of Formula 1.
Taking over from Jonathan Wheatley, the outgoing sporting director, the team has chosen not to appoint a direct replacement. Instead, Red Bull Racing has opted to promote several key figures internally. Wheatley, an influential figure known for his pivotal role during steward interactions and lodging appeals during race weekends, will be joining Sauber as their team principal by early 2025. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see how Sauber, which will transition to Audi in 2026, will benefit from Wheatley’s vast experience.
In the wake of Wheatley’s departure, Steve Knowles, who previously served as a senior strategy engineer, will step up as the acting head of sporting matters. He will report directly to Lambiase, ensuring a strong continuity in the team's strategic capabilities.
Meanwhile, Rich Wolverson has been promoted to head of race team operations. Wolverson’s new role will see him manage the day-to-day activities of the race team. Concurrently, Gerrard O'Reilly has been elevated to head of race team support and logistics, focusing on the seamless coordination of team operations - a crucial aspect of maintaining Red Bull Racing's efficiency and effectiveness on and off the track.
Moreover, Chief Mechanic Phil Turner will take on the critical role of race team factory operations manager. Turner's transition will allow him to oversee back-end factory processes, essential for ensuring that race day success is backed by a robust support structure.
These internal promotions and strategic shifts underscore Red Bull Racing's commitment to leveraging the expertise of its experienced staff. However, Red Bull Racing faces another significant challenge with the impending departure of its renowned aero dynamist, Adrian Newey. Newey will be joining Aston Martin just ahead of the 2025 season. His move represents a considerable loss for Red Bull Racing, given his instrumental role in the team’s recent championships.
Red Bull Racing's strategy to promote from within not only acknowledges the depth of talent within the team but also aims to bring fresh perspectives and maintain the continuity of their winning formula. The team hopes that these leadership changes will sustain their recent successes, having secured three consecutive drivers’ championships and two successive constructors’ championships.
Red Bull Racing will look to maintain its winning momentum through these organizational changes, balancing the need to innovate with the wisdom afforded by their experienced staff. The reshuffle, driven by internal promotions and redefined roles, aims to ensure that the team remains a dominant force in the highly competitive world of Formula 1.