Setback for Verstappen: Key figure departs from Red Bull Powertrains

19:10, 13 Jun

byLudo van Denderen

In the 2026 season, the first F1 car with the Red Bull Powertrain engine is supposed to make its debut in the competition, but entering the final part, the Austrian's face a significant set back: Programme lead Dan Sayers is now departing the team.

Sayers will work for Ford's World Endurance Championship (WEC) project. The American team enter the competition in 2027, with a newly-developed Hypercar, in collaboration with ORECA.

Sayers had a key role in developing Red Bull's first in-house engine (in collaboration with Ford), that is set to make its debut next season in F1.

Prior to that, he worked for Prodrive as the technical director of Aston Martin Racing. There, he was responsible for developing Aston Martin's race cars.

Dan Sayers leaves Red Bull Powertrains.

Sayers couldn't turn down Ford's offer

About his next opportunity, Sayers said: "Ford Performance is taking on so many different challenges around the racing world, but to lead Ford back to its spiritual home at Le Mans was a challenge I could not turn down. Having previously led Aston Martin to multiple Le Mans class victories, the opportunity to take overall honours with Ford is something very special."

"I have loved working on the F1 programme with Red Bull Ford Powertrains so this feels a lot like joining a different part of the same family," said Sayers.

It is still unknown who will replace Sayers at Red Bull Powertrains, which are the sister company of Red Bull Racing.

This article was written in collaboration with Kada Sárközi