Red Bull has vowed to "fight" to prevent any additional attempts by Formula 1 competitors to lure away their employees.
Since Max Verstappen rose to F1 dominance in 2021, the top Formula 1 team owned and run by the energy drink company has seen significant departures, including Dan Fallows, Rob Marshall, Lee Stevenson, Adrian Newey, and Audi's upcoming team principal, Jonathan Wheatley.
Red Bull F1 advisor Dr. Helmut Marko admitted the team had little ability to hold onto the latest loss, Wheatley, with his new substantial Audi salary being shielded by the budget cap regulations.
"We wouldn't have been able to keep up with them," he disclosed to Auto Motor und Sport.
Concerns are mounting that Newey's significant influence and Wheatley's enduring connections at Red Bull could lead to more staff departures soon.
"We are broadly and well positioned as a team, but we will fight for every employee," Marko affirmed.
Some speculate that the internal conflicts within Red Bull in 2024, including those involving Christian Horner, may have influenced not just Newey's but also Wheatley's decision to depart.
"I don't believe it is the turmoil that made him leave," 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve commented to Prime Casino, referring to Wheatley, the long-time team manager and sporting director. "It's just a step up in a career. It's (like) James Vowles leaving Mercedes for Williams.
"It (the turmoil) might have opened the door, but ultimately it is a step up in career," the Canadian elaborated.
Nonetheless, Villeneuve predicts that Red Bull can endure these challenges.
"It won't help them," he remarked, "but it is a great team. Mercedes went to the bottom of their wave and now they're starting to climb the wave again. Red Bull will do the same."
In better news for Red Bull, the well-connected Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf has reported that Toto Wolff has ceased efforts to entice Verstappen to Mercedes. Kimi Antonelli is therefore anticipated to be declared as Lewis Hamilton's successor for 2025 at the upcoming Monza weekend.
But even if Verstappen jumps ship for 2026, Villeneuve believes Red Bull could remain competitive without three-time world champion.
"There was Red Bull before Max and they were winning a lot so Max is not the answer to everything," he remarked. "He is a huge part of the puzzle. Not an easy piece to replace."
Villeneuve is also closely monitoring the FIA's latest crackdown, starting this weekend at Zandvoort, on asymmetric braking systems - a move many believe targets Red Bull.
"There's been some regulation changes about the bias braking - left to right - the steered braking, so we'll have to see who it affects," he noted. "It will be interesting to see which team it affects."
