Legendary F1 engineer’s exit sparks turmoil at Red Bull – Perez reveals team struggles
In a shocking revelation, former Red Bull driver Sergio Perez has exposed the turmoil within the Red Bull F1 team following the departure of renowned engineer Adrian Newey. Newey, the mastermind behind Red Bull’s eight Drivers’ Championships and six Constructors’ Championships, left his role as chief technical officer midway through the 2024 Formula 1 season, leading to what Perez describes as “a lot more problems” for the team.
The departure of Newey, known for his innovative designs that propelled Red Bull to dominance, marked the beginning of a downward spiral for the team. Red Bull, which had started the 2024 season strongly, faltered after Newey’s exit and had to settle for third place in the constructors’ standings behind McLaren and Ferrari.
Perez also highlighted the impact of Jonathan Wheatley’s departure from his role as Red Bull sporting director to join Sauber/Audi as a factor in the team’s struggles. The Mexican driver expressed his disappointment, stating, “When Adrian Newey left, I think that’s when a lot more problems started. Then Jonathan Wheatley left, who was a fundamental part of the team.”
Newey has since taken up a role as managing technical partner at Aston Martin, while Wheatley is overseeing Sauber’s transition to becoming Audi’s works outfit.
Perez, who left Red Bull at the end of the 2024 season, shared his frustration over the lack of protection from speculation surrounding his future within the team. Despite having a signed contract until the end of 2026, Perez was let go before the extension commenced, as his performance declined amid mounting pressure.
The driver lamented the team’s failure to shield him from the constant rumors, saying, “Decisions were made because there was too much pressure that they themselves ended up creating. It would have been easy for the team to protect me… but that wasn’t the case.”
Red Bull’s struggles extended to Perez’s successors as Verstappen’s teammates, with Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda facing challenges on track. Perez hinted at regrets within Red Bull over his departure, revealing, “I know that deep down they are very sorry… we had a great team, and in the end, it fell apart, little by little.”
As the F1 season progresses, the Austrian Grand Prix is up next, promising more drama and excitement on the track. Stay tuned for the latest updates and coverage as the competition heats up in the world of Formula 1.
