Marko asserts Red Bull’s commitment to keeping staff, despite Audi F1’s irresistible offer for Wheatley.
Red Bull will “fight” against any further attempts by its Formula 1 rivals to poach its staff.
The energy drink company’s F1 team has recently seen the departure of key employees, including Dan Fallows, Rob Marshall, Lee Stevenson, Adrian Newey, and Audi F1’s future team boss, Jonathan Wheatley.
Red Bull consultant Dr. Helmut Marko has suggested that the team was “quite powerless to retain Wheatley, as his new substantial salary at Audi is protected by budget cap regulations.”
“We could not have matched them.”
Now, there are concerns that given Newey’s influence, as well as Wheatley’s long-standing contacts at Red Bull, further departures may be imminent.
“We are broadly and well-positioned as a team, but we will fight for every employee.”
Some believe that Red Bull’s internal issues in 2024, including the Christian Horner scandal, triggered the departures of Newey and Wheatley.
“I don’t believe it was the turmoil that drove him away,” says 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve. “It’s just a step in a career. It’s like James Vowles leaving Mercedes for Williams.”
“The turmoil might have opened the door, but ultimately, it’s a step in a career.”
Villeneuve, however, also believes that Red Bull will weather the storm.
“It won’t help them, but it’s a great team. Mercedes hit rock bottom and now they are starting to ride the wave again. Red Bull will do the same.”
Villeneuve believes Red Bull could also survive without Max Verstappen.
“There was Red Bull before Max and they won a lot so Max is not the answer to everything. He is a huge piece of the puzzle. Not an easy piece to replace.”
Villeneuve will also be keeping an eye on the new FIA regulation, effective this weekend at Zandvoort, against asymmetric braking systems – which, according to some, primarily targets Red Bull.
“There have been some regulatory changes concerning asymmetric braking – from left to right – directed braking, so we will have to see who it affects. It will be interesting to see which team suffers the most.”
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Audi F1’s Offer for Wheatley Unmatched by Red Bull Audi F1’s Offer for Wheatley Unmatched by Red Bull
