Red Bull announce new signing as bid to reverse staff exodus and improve F1 form begins

Red Bull have begun their bid to reverse their staff exodus with the announcement of a new technical signing. The team has lost a swathe of talent in recent months with more key figures in the garage expected to depart, and the work has now begun to get back on the front foot.

The team confirmed on Friday that Andrea Landi will join as head of performance, starting work on July 1. Landi has been brought in from sister squad Racing Bulls, where he was deputy technical director, and previously worked for Ferrari as deputy head of vehicle performance. Red Bull said his arrival will "support the team's long -term technical ambitions".

Red Bull have also confirmed an expanded role for Ben Waterhouse, who has been head of performance engineering since 2017. He has now taken on more responsibility as chief performance and design engineer, reporting directly to technical director Pierre Wache who has ultimate responsibility for car performance.

The team's announcement came just a week after it became public knowledge that Gianpiero Lambiase, Max Verstappen's long-serving race engineer, will become the latest key staff member to leave the team. His contract expires at the end of the 2027 season, at which point he will join McLaren as their new 'chief racing officer'.

And 'GP' is only the latest in a long list of figures who have left the team in the last 12 months. Since Christian Horner was ousted after 20 years as team principal and chief executive officer last July, the team has undergone many changed behind the scenes which have also led to an increased level of staff turnover.

Helmut Marko did not have his contract renewed, which was a blow for Verstappen who saw the experienced Austrian as a 'second father' figure. Less reported at the time was the exit of engine technician David Mart, while performance engineer Tom Hart has also agreed to leave for Williams – two of several departures from Verstappen's side of the garage.

Front end mechanic Ole Schack, who has been with the team since before Red Bull bought it at the end of 2004, has handed in his resignation. Verstappen's former No.1 mechanic Matt Caller has already departed for Audi, while his brother Jon is also believed to have given his notice, though that has not yet been confirmed.

Chief designer Craig Skinner resigned in February in a surprise move after it was confirmed that four figures from the PR, HR and marketing sides of the business had also left. But the signing of Landi is the first addition that Red Bull have confirmed, with more likely to come over the next few months as they look to halt the brain drain they have been experiencing.