Red Bull Racing parts ways with senior administrative staff ahead of 2026 season

Four senior administrative staff members have left Red Bull Racing ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season, continuing a period of significant organizational change at the championship-winning team. The departures from marketing, communications, and human resources departments follow the high-profile exits of former team principal Christian Horner and other directors last year, signaling a reshaping of the team's operational structure under new leadership.

Why it matters:

These departures represent more than routine staff turnover; they are a clear indication of new CEO Laurent Mekies and Chairman Oliver Mintzlaff consolidating their vision for the team's future. After a dominant era under Christian Horner, the administrative backbone of the team is being recalibrated, which can impact team culture, partner relationships, and internal processes during a critical regulatory period leading into the 2026 season.

The details:

• The four individuals who have departed are Joanna Fleet (HR Director), Julia George (Director of Partnerships), Simon Smith-Wright (Group Marketing Director), and Alice Hedworth (Senior Communications Manager).
• All four had been appointed during Christian Horner's long tenure as team boss and CEO.
• Sources indicate the staff were not given specific reasons for their departures, which are viewed as part of a broader effort to "clear the house" following the 2025 leadership shake-up.
• The exits follow the post-British GP firings last July of former group chief marketing and commercial officer Oliver Hughes and former group communications director Paul Smith, both of whom were closely aligned with Horner.
• This administrative reshuffle comes shortly after the departure of long-time advisor Helmut Marko in December 2025, marking the end of a defining chapter in Red Bull's F1 history.

What's next:

With pre-season testing for the 2026 campaign on the horizon, the focus will be on how smoothly the new administrative team integrates. The challenge for Mekies and Mintzlaff is to implement their structural changes without disrupting the technical and operational momentum that has made Red Bull the team to beat. Further adjustments to the team's corporate structure are possible as the new leadership fully establishes its footprint ahead of the major 2026 regulation changes.