In a strategic move that signals a critical evolution within the team, Max Verstappen's race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase is set to assume a more senior role at Red Bull Racing. The shifting dynamics within the championship-winning team come as Jonathan Wheatley, the outgoing sporting director, prepares to join Sauber as team principal in early 2025. The transition aligns with Sauber's anticipated transformation into Audi by 2026, further intensifying the competitive landscape in Formula 1.
Red Bull Racing, renowned for its consecutive success with three drivers' championships and two constructors' championships, has opted not to appoint a direct replacement for Wheatley's role. Instead, the team has decided to promote from within, bolstering its internal framework to ensure sustained excellence on the track.
Lambiase's Elevated Role
Gianpiero Lambiase will transition from his role as head of race engineering to the newly created position of head of racing. While he will continue his pit-wall duties with Max Verstappen, Lambiase’s responsibilities will expand significantly. He will now oversee the race, heritage, and car-build teams, as well as handle matters related to Red Bull Racing's strategy group and sporting regulations. Reporting directly to technical director Pierre Wache, Lambiase is expected to bring his strategic acumen to these additional responsibilities.
This structural revamp allows Red Bull Racing to leverage Lambiase's expertise more broadly across the organization while maintaining the pivotal on-track synergy between him and Verstappen—a partnership that has proven instrumental to their recent successes.
Steve Knowles Steps Up
As part of this reshuffle, Steve Knowles, previously a senior strategy engineer, will serve as the acting head of sporting matters. Reporting directly to Lambiase, Knowles will take on a crucial role in managing the sporting aspects of the team's operations. His strategic insights and experience will be vital in navigating the intricate regulations and competitive strategies that characterize modern Formula 1 racing.
Operational Enhancements
Other key promotions within Red Bull Racing include Rich Wolverson, who ascends to head of race team operations. Wolverson will be responsible for managing the day-to-day activities of the race team, ensuring that the operational aspects run seamlessly. Complementing this is Gerrard O'Reilly's promotion to head of race team support and logistics, a role in which he will ensure the smooth coordination of team operations. These promotions underscore a holistic approach to maintaining Red Bull Racing's operational excellence.
Additionally, Chief Mechanic Phil Turner will transition to the role of race team factory operations manager, overseeing the back-end factory processes that are crucial to race day success. Turner's new position signals Red Bull's commitment to optimizing both their trackside and factory operations, ensuring that every aspect of their performance is finely tuned.
Adrian Newey's Departure
In another significant development, Adrian Newey, the chief technical officer and an integral part of Red Bull Racing's engineering success, will begin working for Aston Martin just ahead of the 2025 season. Newey's departure represents a considerable loss for Red Bull Racing, given his instrumental role in the design and engineering of their championship-winning cars. Despite this, the team's strategy to promote from within and broaden the responsibilities of experienced staff aims to mitigate the impact and continue their dominance in Formula 1.
Jonathan Wheatley’s impact on the team, particularly in steward interactions and lodging appeals or protests during race weekends, will also be a gap to fill. His move to Sauber marks a significant change, but it is one that Red Bull Racing appears well-prepared to navigate with their internal promotions and strategic role adjustments.
Red Bull Racing's approach to maintaining its winning momentum through these organizational changes demonstrates a commitment to leveraging internal talent and fostering a deeper, more cohesive team structure. As the team continues to evolve, these strategic shifts will be crucial in their quest to uphold and extend their dominance in the high-octane world of Formula 1 racing.