Lambiase exit only the tip of a growing Red Bull exodus of key figures

At an already delicate moment for the Milton Keynes outfit, coming off a difficult start to the season with no podiums to show for it and a visibly frustrated Max Verstappen, the news of the Italian-born engineer’s departure comes as another major blow that Laurent Mekies will now have to deal with.

The effects of his departure will not be felt immediately, with Lambiase only set to join McLaren in 2028, but it still serves as confirmation that a technical and human cycle is coming to an end - one that has made Red Bull one of the most successful teams in Formula 1 over the past 20 years.

The first major departure dates back to 2023, when Rob Marshall left after a long spell with Red Bull that began in 2006. As chief engineering officer, he played a key role in six constructors’ titles alongside Adrian Newey. The Brit moved to McLaren, where he is now regarded as one of the driving forces behind the team’s recent dominance in his role as chief designer.

The second, and arguably most headline-grabbing exit on the technical front, was that of Adrian Newey himself. Having joined in 2006 as chief technical officer, the Colchester-born genius was behind some of the most dominant cars in F1 history. His departure, announced in 2024 and completed in 2025 with a move to Aston Martin, sent shockwaves through the paddock. He now serves as managing technical partner, also holding shares in the team owned by Lawrence Stroll.

In 2024, Red Bull also saw the departure of Jonathan Wheatley, its long-serving Sporting Director, who went on to join Sauber as Team Principal to lead the transition to Audi, although his tenure lasted just over a year following the recent news of his exit.

Another, perhaps less high-profile but still significant figure is Will Courtenay. He joined in 2010 - the year of Red Bull’s first title - as head of strategy, and like Marshall, he also made the switch to McLaren, taking up the role of sporting director in 2024.

The most seismic departure, however, came in 2025 with the exit of Christian Horner from his dual role as team principal and CEO after two decades, making way for Laurent Mekies. Horner was instrumental in building the entire Red Bull project from the ground up, including the development of the Powertrains division. As things stand, he has yet to commit to a new team, although links to Alpine as a potential shareholder - in a role similar to Toto Wolff at Mercedes - continue to circulate.

Among the most recent departures is Helmut Marko, who had previously come close to being dismissed but ultimately stayed, before leaving Red Bull last December after 20 years, having built an empire through the Red Bull Junior Programme and discovered top-tier drivers - most notably Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, but also many others still on the grid today.

The latest in chronological order is Chief Designer Craig Skinner, who had also been at Milton Keynes since 2006 and now finds himself saying goodbye after two decades.

Verstappen had already outlined his position on the matter some time ago, making it clear that his long-term future in Formula 1 is closely tied to his relationship with Gianpiero Lambiase.

Comments dating back to a 2021 interview with Ziggo have now resurfaced in light of the latest developments, fuelling fresh speculation about what could follow next.

While the Dutchman remains under contract with Red Bull until 2028, his dissatisfaction with the current generation of cars and the direction of the sport has become increasingly evident - with retirement even emerging as a genuine possibility in recent weeks.