Karun Chandhok urges Red Bull to secure marquee signing as staff exodus looms

Former F1 driver and Sky Sports analyst Karun Chandhok warned Red Bull on the Sky Sports F1 Show that recent staff losses could spiral without a marquee signing. Race engineer Gianpiero “GP” Lambiase’s move to McLaren as chief racing officer by 2028 is the latest high‑profile exit. Chandhok says a big‑name hire is needed not only for its expertise but also for the talent it can draw to keep Red Bull’s engineering hub intact.

Why it matters:

• Lambiase’s exit erodes the continuity that helped Verstappen dominate race weekends.
• Mercedes, topping the first three rounds of 2026, is luring top engineers, raising the talent bar.
• History shows high‑profile moves—Newey, Brawn—often spark staff migrations.

The details:

• GP Lambiase spent two seasons as Verstappen’s race engineer before joining McLaren’s leadership team.
• Red Bull sits sixth in the Constructors’ Championship with 16 points after three races.
• Chandhok warned “good people attract good people,” suggesting a star hire could stop further defections.

What's next:

• Red Bull may target a senior engineer from Mercedes or Ferrari, using a marquee contract to signal ambition.
• If no star hire arrives, continued attrition could widen the performance gap and end Red Bull’s recent title run.
• Internally, Red Bull may reshuffle its engineering hierarchy to retain remaining talent and speed development.