HEART BROKEN: Red Bull boss addresses concern over mass departures… Read more
Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff Plays Down Fears Over Major Team Departures
By Hugo Harvey
Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff has moved to calm growing concerns over a wave of high-profile departures that have reshaped the Formula 1 team in recent seasons, insisting the Milton Keynes outfit remains firmly on the right path despite losing several key figures from its championship-winning era.
Red Bull have undergone one of the most dramatic internal transformations on the grid, with a number of senior personnel exiting the organisation after years of unprecedented success. Among the most notable departures are legendary chief designer Adrian Newey, long-serving sporting director Jonathan Wheatley, and former team principal Christian Horner. Adding to that list, Helmut Marko recently confirmed he will step away from the team at the conclusion of the 2025 season, bringing an end to a partnership that dates back to Red Bull’s very first F1 campaign.
The scale of change has inevitably raised questions among fans and pundits alike, particularly as these exits coincided with a visible dip in Red Bull’s on-track dominance last season. However, Mintzlaff appears unmoved by the noise surrounding the team’s internal overhaul.
Mintzlaff Unfazed by Red Bull’s Changing Leadership
Speaking in a rare interview with Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf following confirmation of Marko’s departure, Mintzlaff addressed concerns head-on. When asked whether the loss of so many influential figures should worry Red Bull supporters, the CEO dismissed the idea outright.
“Do you still think they are concerned, after the good performances of recent months?” Mintzlaff responded, pointing to Red Bull’s recovery in form during the latter part of the season.
Despite McLaren’s rise to the top of the grid and Lando Norris securing the world championship, Red Bull remained competitive. Max Verstappen mounted a late charge for the title and ultimately finished just two points behind Norris, a result that underscored the team’s resilience even during a period of transition.
However, Mintzlaff was quick to stress that last season’s near-miss offers no guarantees for the future. With sweeping regulation changes coming into force in 2026, every team will effectively be starting from scratch.
Confidence Ahead of Major Regulation Changes
The looming overhaul of Formula 1’s technical regulations has only intensified scrutiny of Red Bull’s internal changes. De Telegraaf pressed Mintzlaff on whether the timing of so many departures, so close to a new regulatory era, was a cause for concern.
“I’m not worried,” he said firmly. “Because I know we’re replacing all those people in the right way.”
Mintzlaff acknowledged that change is often met with scepticism, particularly in parts of Europe where stability is traditionally valued.
“In Germany and Austria, and perhaps also in the Netherlands, I see that people generally don’t like change,” he explained. “But I do like it. Because I know it will make us better. And yes, that means stepping out of your comfort zone for a moment.”
According to Mintzlaff, Red Bull’s leadership believes that evolution is essential to maintaining success in a sport as fast-moving as Formula 1. Standing still, he argued, is a greater risk than embracing transformation.
Why Red Bull Acted When It Did
Mintzlaff also offered insight into the timing of Red Bull’s internal decisions, suggesting the team’s leadership recognised warning signs well before results visibly declined.
“I’m not going to change anything if I think everything is going well,” he said. “Last year, we already saw that things were going in the wrong direction.”
Rather than reacting impulsively to short-term setbacks, Mintzlaff emphasised a measured approach. Senior figures were given the opportunity to correct course, but decisive action followed when it became clear deeper changes were needed.
“So you give the people in charge the opportunity to turn things around this year,” he continued. “I’m not going to suddenly take drastic action after two or three bad races. But last July was the right time to do what we did.”
A New-Look Red Bull Era Begins
With Horner, Newey, Wheatley and soon Marko all gone, Red Bull now looks vastly different from the team Verstappen drove to his first world championship in 2021. Yet Mintzlaff’s comments make it clear the organisation views this not as the end of an era, but the beginning of a new one.
As Formula 1 heads toward its next major reset in 2026, Red Bull are betting that fresh leadership, new ideas and a willingness to embrace change will keep them among the sport’s elite. Whether that confidence is rewarded on track remains to be seen, but from the CEO’s perspective, the foundations for future success are already firmly in place.
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