[REVISION HISTORY]

Red Bull leadership and driver changes amid restructuring

Updated 21 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-09-23 08:28 UTC → 2026-10-09 21:28 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Red Bull’s 2026 RB22 B-spec upgrades have narrowed the gap to the front-runners, leaving the team fourth in the Constructors’ Championship. Max Verstappen remains seventh in the Drivers’ standings, over 250 points behind leader Kimi Antonelli. Following a period of intense speculation, Verstappen has officially signed a contract extension committing him to Red Bull Racing until the end of the 2030 season. Verstappen revealed he seriously considered retiring from Formula 1 at the end of the 2026 season, noting he was “closer to leaving Formula 1 than signing with another team” and that his decision to continue was once a “50-50” split. He cited his love for racing and the team’s openness to him pursuing endurance racing as deciding factors, while rejecting claims that the renewal was driven solely by salary increases. Jos Verstappen noted the decision was influenced by a desire for stability and the leadership of team principal Laurent Mekies. Despite his long-term commitment, McLaren CEO Zak Brown stated that the door remains “wide open” for Verstappen to join the team in the future. Brown noted he held exploratory conversations with the driver last summer, describing him as “charming” and a “racer through and through.” While reports suggest Verstappen’s contract may include performance clauses allowing for an earlier exit, Verstappen has dismissed rumors of a move to Ferrari. He stated he would not join Ferrari if it meant competing for lower positions, emphasizing that his primary motivation is winning. He reaffirmed his commitment to Red Bull, describing the team as a “second family.” The team is undergoing a significant technical and personnel reshuffle. Tom McCullough will join Red Bull in 2027 as head of racing, succeeding Gianpiero Lambiase. ~~McLaren is currently negotiating to accelerate Lambiase’s transfer from 2028 to 2027.~~ To prepare, Red Bull has secured Tom Hart as Verstappen’s new race engineer for 2027. In driver development, Red Bull has signed 11-year-old Robin Raikkonen to its junior academy, effective 2027. Additionally, the team has secured Isack Hadjar for the 2027 Formula One season, completing the driver line-up alongside Verstappen. Hadjar, who recently returned to racing at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix following a wrist injury, was described by Laurent Mekies as an “easy decision” due to his performance and composure during his rookie season.

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