Red Bull axe four key staff members as exodus continues before 2026 F1 season

The Red Bull exodus continues during the early phases of the 2026 campaign, with four key figures reportedly out of the door at Milton Keynes. The six-time world champions have experienced a tumultuous period behind the scenes, losing several important figures, including Christian Horner and Helmut Marko.

Marko's exit was the latest in a long line of departures that included key technical staff Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley, with the Austrian advisor opting to retire from motorsport after watching Max Verstappen fall just short of a fifth consecutive Drivers' Championship title at the 2025 season finale in Abu Dhabi.

Now, according to a PlanetF1 report, four more key figures have left the organisation. Among them is Joanna Fleet, Red Bull's human resources director, who has been a part of the Milton Keynes squad since 2013.

Director of partnerships, Julia George, has also left the organisation, while group marketing director Simon Smith-Wright was also let go. Alice Hedworth, the team's senior communications manager, often spotted alongside Sergio Perez and Yuki Tsunoda in media pen interviews, has also departed.

The most recent raft of departures marks the ongoing overhaul behind the scenes at Red Bull as Laurent Mekies and Oliver Mintzlaff pave the way for a new era for the team.

Part of this evolution involves the team's new power unit, which debuted to strong reviews from around the paddock at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. Red Bull experienced next to no technical gremlins with its latest project, built from the ground up with help from American auto manufacturer Ford.

Reviews from across the Red Bull family were positive following the test at Montmelo. Isack Hadjar expressed his surprise at the efficiency of the first outing, while the Racing Bulls camp was impressed with their sister team's offering.

"The power unit is working fine," said Racing Bulls' chief race engineer, Mattia Spini. "Again, it's not perfect, but we didn't expect it to be. We certainly need to work [on several aspects], but we are working really well together. At Red Bull Powertrains, and also the engineers with us and in the factory, they are really open and honest.

"The relationship is really good between the two groups. Actually, we are almost the same team, but we started working really well, and I'm sure we'll keep working in that direction. We are going to fine-tune the power unit for the first race."