Red Bull Racing have unveiled a significant internal restructuring as they respond to a wave of high-profile departures that has shaken the team’s leadership core in recent months.
The latest setback came with the confirmation that long-time race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase will leave to join McLaren. Lambiase has been a crucial figure in the success of Max Verstappen, acting as his trusted voice on the pit wall throughout multiple championship-winning campaigns. His exit marks another major loss for a team already undergoing a period of significant transition.
Prior to Lambiase’s departure, Red Bull had already seen several influential figures move on, including former team principal Christian Horner, legendary designer Adrian Newey, and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley. Senior advisor Helmut Marko has also been part of the broader changes affecting the once tightly-knit leadership group. Together, these figures formed the backbone of Red Bull’s dominance in Formula 1 over recent years, making the scale of this reshuffle particularly striking.
In response, Red Bull have opted to reinforce their structure from within rather than seeking external replacements. The team has announced the immediate promotion of Ben Waterhouse to the expanded role of Chief Performance and Design Engineer. In this position, Waterhouse will take responsibility for both the design and vehicle performance departments, working under technical director Pierre Waché. His new role is intended to improve coordination between key technical areas and streamline the development of future cars.
Waterhouse is no stranger to the Red Bull system. Having joined the organization in 2014 from BMW-Sauber, he initially held a senior technical role at Toro Rosso before progressing to Head of Performance Engineering at Red Bull Racing in 2017. His deep understanding of the team’s philosophy and processes made him a natural candidate for promotion during this transitional phase.
Alongside this move, Red Bull have also confirmed that Andrea Landi will step into the role of Head of Performance starting July 1. Landi, who previously worked with Ferrari and most recently held a senior technical position at Racing Bulls, brings valuable experience from across the Formula 1 grid. In his new role, he will report directly to Waterhouse and is expected to play a key part in enhancing the team’s overall performance capabilities.
These changes highlight Red Bull’s strategy of maintaining continuity by promoting trusted internal talent while selectively integrating experienced figures from within their wider network. Rather than undertaking a complete external overhaul, the team appears focused on evolving its existing structure to remain competitive.
Despite the challenges posed by the loss of several key individuals, Red Bull’s latest moves signal a clear intent to rebuild and adapt. By reshaping their technical leadership and strengthening collaboration across departments, they aim to sustain their position at the forefront of Formula 1 in the years ahead.
