Ex-Verstappen Engineer Michael Manning Joins Williams in Senior Trackside Role

Michael Manning, the controls engineer who helped mastermind Max Verstappen’s race starts at Red Bull, has officially begun his new role as Chief Engineer – Trackside Engineering at Williams. His arrival at Grove comes midway through 2026, with the team seeking stability after a difficult start to the new regulatory era.

Why it matters:

Manning’s move is a notable technical coup for Williams. Having spent over a decade at Red Bull and formed part of Verstappen’s inner circle during his title-winning campaigns, he brings winning pedigree to a team struggling to convert factory progress into consistent trackside results. His appointment underscores James Vowles’ push to recruit proven talent as Williams aims to re-establish itself in the midfield fight.

The details:

• Manning joined Red Bull in 2011 and served as Verstappen’s controls engineer, directly responsible for the Dutchman’s race starts throughout his championship years.
• At Williams, his remit covers trackside engineering leadership, bridging factory development and race weekend execution.
• The appointment reunites Manning with former Red Bull affiliates Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz, the latter having come through the Toro Rosso junior program.
• Manning said on LinkedIn that Williams’ ambition to return to the sharp end, not just its storied history, drew him to the role ahead of the team’s 50th anniversary.

What's next:

Manning faces the immediate task of helping Williams recover ground during the second half of the 2026 season. After promising progress in 2025, the team has found the new regulations challenging, and Carlos Sainz’s long-term future at Grove remains unresolved. How quickly Manning can embed Red Bull-level operational discipline into the outfit may prove decisive in shaping both the team’s short-term results and its rebuilding credibility.