Former Red Bull Mechanic Forced to Deny 'Bizarre' Death Rumor

Former Red Bull mechanic and current team ambassador Calum Nicholas was compelled to publicly refute a bizarre death hoax circulating on social media. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Nicholas addressed the false Facebook post with a dose of humor, confirming to concerned fans that he was, in fact, 'very much still alive'.

Why it matters:

The incident underscores the pervasive nature of misinformation in the digital age, extending its reach to even non-driver personnel within the F1 paddock. For a well-known team figure like Nicholas, who transitioned from a key garage role to a public-facing position, such rumors can spread rapidly, highlighting the intense scrutiny and fan engagement that characterizes modern Formula 1.

The details:

• Nicholas explained he woke up to messages from people who had seen a Facebook post falsely claiming he had passed away.
• He used his platform on X to directly address the situation, stating the rumor was 'factually incorrect'.
• His full statement: 'To the disappointment of many, I’m sure, I am very much still alive (at least, physically). I am going skiing today though, so there’s hope for you yet.'
• He concluded with a classic piece of advice: 'Don’t believe everything you read on the internet.'

The big picture:

Nicholas, who moved away from his frontline mechanic role last season, serves as a key ambassador for Red Bull. His perspective on the team's dominant period remains valuable, having worked closely with Max Verstappen during the 2023 campaign. That year, the Dutch driver piloted the legendary RB19 to a record-breaking 19 victories, a testament to both the car's superiority and the driver's relentless push for perfection, which Nicholas witnessed firsthand.