Paul Monaghan to Leave Red Bull for Cadillac in Latest Blow to Milton Keynes

Paul Monaghan, Red Bull Racing's chief engineer of car engineering and a foundational figure since 2005, is poised to join the Cadillac Formula 1 team. The move, which Motorsport.com understands is effectively finalized though no formal resignation has been submitted, marks another significant departure from Milton Keynes following the exits of Christian Horner and Adrian Newey.

Why it matters:

Monaghan's exit represents more than a routine personnel change. As one of the most influential yet low-profile architects of Red Bull's dominance, his departure accelerates the talent drain at a team already undergoing a major technical restructuring. The continued erosion of institutional knowledge raises fresh questions about long-term stability and competitiveness, particularly amid persistent speculation surrounding Max Verstappen's future.

The details:

• Monaghan joined Red Bull in 2005 and has served as a technical cornerstone across 14 world championships, playing a pivotal engineering role throughout the Christian Horner era.
• The deal with Cadillac was effectively confirmed at the Austrian Grand Prix in Spielberg, though Monaghan is continuing his duties in the Red Bull garage this weekend without having officially handed in his resignation.
• Cadillac has aggressively recruited from established UK-based F1 operations, hiring mechanics and trackside personnel from Red Bull and other teams as it builds its organization ahead of its grid debut.
• Monaghan's F1 career began at McLaren in 1990, where he worked as a data engineer alongside Ayrton Senna and Gerhard Berger. He later joined Benetton to work with a young Fernando Alonso before arriving at Red Bull via Jordan.

What's next:

Red Bull now faces the difficult task of replacing decades of engineering leadership while attempting to stabilize its rebuilt technical hierarchy. For Cadillac, securing a veteran of Monaghan's caliber provides invaluable experience as the American outfit prepares to join the grid, though Red Bull must first formally release him to complete the transfer.