Red Bull Finalizes Verstappen's Crew After Key Personnel Departures

Max Verstappen’s garage at Red Bull has been reshuffled following the exit of key personnel, with the team now finalizing replacements to maintain stability around the four-time champion. While some familiar faces have departed for rival projects, new hires and internal promotions are filling the void to ensure a seamless transition into the new season.

Why it matters:

Maintaining crew cohesion is vital for Verstappen's performance. High turnover can disrupt communication and feedback loops, so integrating new engineers quickly is critical for Red Bull to retain their competitive edge amidst broader technical regulation changes and internal restructuring.

The Details:

• Control Engineer: Geoff Ayton replaces Michael Manning, who departed after the 2025 campaign. Ayton is a known quantity, having briefly worked with Verstappen last year and previously serving his teammates.
• First Mechanic: The position stays in the family with Jon Caller replacing his twin brother, Matt, who became chief mechanic at Audi. Jon brings extensive experience from the sister garage, having worked with Perez, Lawson, and Tsunoda.
• Engine & Performance: David Mart’s move to Audi created a vacancy for a new engine engineer, set to be filled internally. Performance engineer Tom Hart is bound for Williams but remains with the team for the time being.
• Continuity: Gianpiero Lambiase retains his role as race engineer, providing essential consistency for the Dutch driver.

Looking Ahead:

With the roster now set, the priority is building chemistry during pre-season testing. The new crew will need to gel immediately to support Verstappen's title defense.