Jos Verstappen raises red flag over Red Bull’s departing engineers

Dominika Jordan
Oct 1, 2024, 05:50 AM ET

Amid a turbulent period for Red Bull Racing, Jos Verstappen, father of Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen, has expressed serious concerns about the wave of high-profile engineer departures from the team. He claims that he had foreseen this issue earlier in the year and had alerted Red Bull to the underlying challenges.

The 2024 Formula 1 season opener in Bahrain became a focal point for issues within Red Bull's management when accusations surfaced against team principal Christian Horner regarding his alleged controlling behavior. "It can't go on the way it is. It will explode," Jos revealed in an interview with the Daily Mail, pointing to a climate of tension while Horner remains at the helm.

Although Horner was exonerated after an internal investigation by the Red Bull parent company, the atmosphere within the team remains fraught. The situation has not been helped by a series of announcements from key team members indicating their planned departure from Red Bull.

Most notably, Adrian Newey, the chief technical officer, confirmed his exit scheduled for early 2025, with a move to rival team Aston Martin. Additionally, Jonathan Wheatley, the sporting director, is set to take up the mantle of team principal at Audi's emerging F1 project next year. Head of strategy Will Courtenay is also leaving, destined for McLaren once his contract concludes.

"Yes, this is what I warned about," Jos Verstappen stated in a discussion with Motorsport.com at a rally in Belgium. Reflecting on the team’s attitude, he added, "The team then says: 'Oh, it doesn't matter, we have someone else [who we can put on that position].' But it's too many people now [leaving]."

The cloud of uncertainty extends to Max Verstappen's own future at Red Bull. While the three-time world champion is committed to staying with the team through 2025 under his current contract, which extends until the end of 2028, there have been whispers of a potential move for the 2026 season. Speculation surrounding his departure heightened following a summer meeting between Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff and Max's management, although talks were eventually abandoned.

Red Bull's upcoming seasons hinge on its ability to remain competitive and cohesive amid these personnel shifts, as they attempt to maintain their track success in the face of significant internal challenges.

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Jos Verstappen raises red flag over Red Bull’s departing engineers