Red Bull and Ford stay confident despite rocky 2026 start and key staff exits

Red Bull's 2026 campaign started underwhelmingly, with the new power unit surprising rivals but the chassis and aero performance lagging. Recent progress in Miami, however, hints at a turning point. Meanwhile, key personnel changes continue, most notably race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase's planned move to McLaren in 2028. Ford, Red Bull's engine partner, remains undeterred.

Why it matters:

The departure of Lambiase — Max Verstappen's right-hand man and Head of Racing — fits a pattern of exits including Rob Marshall, Jonathan Wheatley, Adrian Newey, and others. How Red Bull manages this exodus while chasing performance under new regulations will define its competitiveness. Ford's public confidence provides a stabilizing signal.

The details:

• Early struggles: Red Bull's aero package was underwhelming in the first races, though the Ford-powered unit impressed rivals.
• Miami turnaround: A step forward in Florida suggests the team is understanding the new rules, but work remains.
• Lambiase's exit: The engineer will join McLaren in 2028. Verstappen acknowledged the move was inevitable, saying Lambiase “would have been an idiot” to refuse McLaren's offer.
• Ford's reassurance: Performance director Mark Rushbrook told Motorsport.com that Red Bull has “the right people, the right culture.” He noted that the team's history of bouncing back — including last year's close title fight — gives Ford confidence.
• Verstappen factor: The four-time champion has been vocal about 2026 regulations and his future. Rushbrook said Ford would “hate to see Max leave” but stressed their F1 commitment is not tied to any individual.

What's next:

Red Bull still has time to plan Lambiase's succession. The team's ability to retain talent and close the gap to frontrunners will be tested. With Ford fully behind the project and Verstappen's future uncertain, the coming months could shape a new era for the Milton Keynes squad.