Confirmed: Red Bull strengthens team with key Aston Martin figure

The story, reported earlier today by German news site Bild, about McCullough joining the team of Max Verstappen and Isack Hadjar is correct, however, it is not yet certain whether McCullough will work under the title Head of Racing.

The timing of this move is telling. While recent months have focused mainly on Verstappen’s future and the development of the RB22, just as much work is being done behind the scenes on the organization that would support the Dutchman in the coming years. Earlier, Gwen Lagrue was announced as the new head of the team's junior program, and McCullough is the second well-respected expert to join the Austrian outfit.

Within Red Bull, McCullough will likely take over part of Gianpiero Lambiase’s responsibilities. Lambiase has fulfilled a dual role for years: he is not only the Dutchman's race engineer, he also leads the race engineering department during Grand Prix weekends. McCullough would take on the latter role, while Lambiase will join McLaren after this season.

McCullough is a well-respected engineer with an extensive track record in the F1 paddock. He previously worked at Williams and Sauber before spending over a decade at Force India, Racing Point, and ultimately Aston Martin. During that period, he held various roles and became one of the key figures at the Silverstone-based team. Since last year, he has served as Performance Director for Aston Martin Performance Technologies, overseeing a broader role outside the Formula 1 project.

The arrival of another well-known name from the paddock is a signal to Verstappen. The Dutchman has not yet announced whether he will remain with Red Bull in 2027, but McCullough’s arrival makes that prospect more appealing for the four-time world champion.