Crimson Bull advisor Helmut Marko has downplayed the most recent developments throughout the Milton Keynes-based squad, with key employees having been poached by rival groups.
In the previous few months, chief technical officer Adrian Newey, sporting director Jonathan Wheatley and head of race technique Will Courtenay have been signed by Aston Martin, Sauber/Audi and McLaren as managing technical companion, crew principal and sporting director respectively.
Final 12 months, chief engineering officer Rob Marshall additionally departed Crimson Bull to affix McLaren, initially as technical director of engineering and design, shortly earlier than taking over the chief designer function.
Following the Courtenay announcement final week, Jos Verstappen bitterly remarked concerning the mind exodus: “This is what I warned about… It’s too many people now [leaving].”
Marko’s viewpoint very a lot differs from the Dutchman’s, as proven by his interview with Autosport’s sister publication Formel1.de.
When requested whether or not the facility wrestle between crew principal Christian Horner and himself could be in charge for the scenario, Marko replied: “Properly, I might say that it is a pure growth, if you’ve been as profitable as we’ve got been, that individuals are poached.
“[Courtenay] had a suggestion that was considerably extra engaging by way of place and financially, and that was the case for most people talked about.”

Hannah Schmitz, principal technique engineer at Crimson Bull Racing
Photograph by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Photographs
The Austrian additionally clarified that principal technique engineer Hannah Schmitz could be the one and solely candidate to switch Courtenay as head of race technique.
“We now have to face collectively and do all the pieces we are able to to make sure that this world championship is received this 12 months and that we additionally construct profitable automobiles for subsequent 12 months and the 12 months after that, as a result of that is the premise for with the ability to preserve a Max Verstappen,” Marko insisted.
Verstappen’s future on the crew just isn’t assured, with Mercedes having thought of a transfer for the three-time world champion earlier than selling highly-rated junior driver Andrea Kimi Antonelli to a race seat for 2025. His signing to switch Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton has led crew principal Toto Wolff to acknowledge the team should stop flirting with Verstappen.
In the meantime, strengthened by Newey’s arrival, Aston Martin is now overtly courting the Dutch driver, who remains coy about this prospect.
Requested whether or not Newey might have solved Crimson Bull’s present predicament, Marko stated: “That is an illusory rhetorical query. We now have a various crew, and so they should – and can – clear up this.”
Crimson Bull will nonetheless stay up for finishing work on its new wind tunnel, with its present mannequin in Bedford not updated.
“A extra fashionable wind tunnel would assist,” Marko admitted. “Our wind tunnel is a post-war mannequin that the British military constructed.
“We’re not updated – by a great distance. And I hope that in 2026, our new wind tunnel will likely be up and operating.”