A major shake-up is underway at Red Bull Racing, and Juan Pablo Montoya is sounding the alarm. He fears the team is shifting its focus, especially with key figures like Helmut Marko departing. This restructuring could signal a change in Red Bull's core objectives. But what does this mean for the future of the team? Let's dive in.
Over the past couple of years, Red Bull has seen a significant reshuffling of its leadership. Key individuals who were instrumental in the team's success have moved on. Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley left in 2024, followed by Christian Horner's departure this July.
Laurent Mekies has stepped in to replace Horner as Red Bull's CEO and Team Principal. Pierre Wache has filled Newey’s role in the design department, and Gianpiero Lambiase has become the head of racing.
Now, Helmut Marko, the team's F1 motorsport advisor and head of the driver academy, is also leaving after the 2025 season. Red Bull has confirmed his departure, but they are unlikely to replace him directly.
Montoya believes Red Bull might be prioritizing business over racing.
Marko doesn't see Sebastian Vettel as having enough support to replace him. Instead, Oliver Mintzlaff, the managing director of Red Bull GmbH, is expected to take on a larger role in the day-to-day operations of Red Bull Racing in 2026.
But here's where it gets controversial... Montoya worries that Mintzlaff's increased involvement could signal a shift towards running the F1 team as a business, potentially prioritizing profits over winning races. He argues that a racing team's primary goal should be victory, with financial success following as a result.
Montoya stated: "The entire structure that was Red Bull no longer exists. And don’t look at the results without them in a year where ultimately this entire structure was still in place.
"Now, the question is what will happen to this entire structure with a new car, and a new engine, and everything new? This other engine, the Ford, will also be there next year.
"What will happen? What if Red Bull do not work out? What will happen if Max [Verstappen] leaves? Hey, where will Max go? If it comes to that, it’s more like Red Bull are changing, which isn’t easy, because they’re trying to make it a little more corporate.
"Part of the decision is that Austria wants to have more control and, from a business point of view, this makes sense, or to control a little more of what is happening in Milton Keynes.
"But if you are running a racing team, you are not running a business, so you cannot look at it as a business. You have to look at it as a racing team where the goal is not to make money.
"The goal is to win races. Then, if you win races, the money comes in to make money. And Red Bull have always done well when you don’t look at the numbers economically. They have always made a lot of money. So, it’s very complicated."
In 2005, Red Bull GmbH put Marko and Horner in charge of Red Bull Racing. Newey and Wheatley joined in 2006, transforming the team into a top contender. Red Bull has a strong track record, with only Ferrari, McLaren, and Mercedes having won more F1 drivers' championships. Red Bull secured four consecutive titles with Sebastian Vettel from 2010 to 2013 and another four with Max Verstappen from 2021 to 2024.
Verstappen narrowly missed out on a fifth consecutive title in 2025, finishing just behind McLaren's Lando Norris. The 2026 F1 regulations will introduce a new era, with Red Bull becoming an engine manufacturer.
Horner established Red Bull Powertrains after Honda's initial exit announcement in 2021. While Honda later partnered with Aston Martin for 2026, Horner also secured a partnership with Ford for hybrid technology.
Now, Mekies is set to lead Red Bull into this new era, potentially with Mintzlaff by his side. However, there are concerns about Red Bull's 2026 F1 engine, with expectations that it might initially lag behind Mercedes' engine.
What do you think? Do you agree with Montoya's concerns about Red Bull's changing priorities? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
