Red Bull chief engineer Paul Monaghan linked with future Cadillac move

Red Bull Racing faces renewed questions over its engineering stability after chief engineer Paul Monaghan emerged as the latest senior figure linked with a move to Cadillac. While neither team has officially commented, paddock sources suggest there is genuine substance to the rumors.

Why it matters:

The Milton Keynes squad has already endured significant turnover, with Adrian Newey, Jonathan Wheatley, and Rob Marshall departing for rivals, while Gianpiero Lambiase is confirmed to join McLaren in 2028. Monaghan's exit would remove another layer of technical leadership just as the team fights to close a performance gap and maintain Max Verstappen's faith in its long-term project.

The details:

• Sources indicate Monaghan is considering a more senior role within Cadillac's engineering department, though any switch would likely be a longer-term arrangement rather than immediate.
• Team principal Laurent Mekies refused to comment on specific speculation but noted that many rumored departures in recent months never materialized, with several staff still in the garage.
• Mekies emphasized that Red Bull maintains "strength in depth" and succession plans for every senior role, citing internal promotions such as Ben Waterhouse's elevation to chief performance and design engineer.
• The team principal insisted the squad has "incredible talent at all levels" and will not use personnel gaps as an excuse for on-track struggles.
• Mekies also downplayed concerns that turnover would affect Verstappen's future, stating the four-time champion cares only about the stopwatch and is actively helping develop the car through extensive test scans.

What's next:

Red Bull's immediate priority is validating its Austrian Grand Prix upgrade package, which carries extra significance given Mekies' admission that the budget cap limits remaining development opportunities. The team is not pressing Verstappen for assurances, confident that returning the car to the front will naturally resolve any doubts over his commitment.