Montoya questions Red Bull's future after key personnel exodus

Juan Pablo Montoya has raised significant concerns about Red Bull Racing's long-term prospects following the departure of key architect Helmut Marko, suggesting the team's championship-winning structure has been dismantled. The former F1 driver warns that judging the team by its 2025 performance is misleading, as the full infrastructure that built its success was still in place during that period.

Why it matters:

Red Bull's recent dominance has been built on a specific organizational structure and culture cultivated by figures like Marko, Adrian Newey, and Christian Horner. With most of these key personnel now gone, there are legitimate questions about whether the team can maintain its competitive edge through a major regulatory change in 2026, especially as it transitions to a new power unit partnership with Ford.

The details:

• Montoya's primary concern centers on the complete overhaul of Red Bull's operational framework, noting "the entire structure that was Red Bull no longer exists."
• He highlights the convergence of multiple challenges for 2026: a completely new car design under new technical regulations, the integration of a new Ford power unit, and fresh leadership.
• The Colombian driver pointed to a potential philosophical shift, suggesting Austrian parent company Red Bull GmbH wants more direct control from a business perspective, which may conflict with the pure racing ethos that drove the team's success.
• Sebastian Vettel, a four-time champion discovered by Marko, expressed surprise at the sudden departure, underscoring the emotional and historical weight of the change for the team's identity.

Looking ahead:

The 2026 season represents the ultimate test for Red Bull's new era. The team must prove it can succeed without its traditional pillars while managing the immense technical challenge of new chassis and engine regulations. Montoya's pointed question—"What if Red Bull doesn't get it right?"—hangs over the operation, compounded by ongoing speculation about Max Verstappen's long-term future. The team's ability to navigate this period will determine if it remains a frontrunner or becomes a cautionary tale about institutional memory loss in Formula 1.