Red Bull’s 2024 season has been marked by turbulence both on and off the track, as the defending champions struggle with technical issues and key staff departures. According to Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko, the team’s decline has been accelerated by the loss of crucial personnel, with high-profile figures like Adrian Newey and Rob Marshall leaving the team.
Red Bull began the year embroiled in controversies surrounding team principal Christian Horner, but the focus quickly shifted to the RB20’s on-track performance. Max Verstappen has voiced concerns over the car’s handling issues, adding pressure to a team already grappling with significant changes.
As the RB20 continues to underperform, upgrades are being delayed, with new components unlikely to arrive until round 19 at COTA. This leaves Red Bull in a precarious position heading into races at Baku and Singapore, where Marko admits they may need to focus on damage limitation.
Commenting on the challenges facing the team, Marko said, “It’s clear that something like that doesn’t help,” referring to the Horner controversy in an interview with OE24. “But ultimately, it’s not directly related to our technical problems – but to the departure of important people.”
Marko acknowledged that staff turnover is a natural part of the sport: “If certain employees want a change and receive a good offer or see a new opportunity, then they take it.”
With senior engineers leaving the Milton Keynes team, Red Bull’s long-term trajectory is uncertain as they fight to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving field.