Red Bull announces technical shake-up amid poor F1 2026 form

Red Bull has announced a shake-up to its technical department in the wake of a poor start to the 2026 Formula 1 season.

Former head of performance engineering Ben Waterhouse has received an immediate promotion to become chief performance and design engineer, a role that will see him report directly to technical director Pierre Wache.

Waterhouse initially joined the Red Bull family from Sauber in 2014 and acted as deputy technical director at sister squad Toro Rosso. In 2017, he moved to Red Bull and took on the position of head of performance engineering.

Red Bull has described the changes as an “evolution” that it says “strengthens integration between these areas and will accelerate the development of competitive, high-performing solutions.”

Additionally, Red Bull has announced that Andrea Landi will join the team from 1 July as its new head of performance.

Landi most recently served as deputy head of vehicle performance at Ferrari and deputy technical director at Racing Bulls.

“These changes support the Team’s long-term technical ambitions and reflect its continued focus on developing internal talent while attracting leading expertise from across the sport,” Red Bull added.

Red Bull has endured a torrid start to the 2026 season and F1’s biggest-ever rules change and currently lies sixth in the constructors’ championship, scoring just 16 points across the opening three rounds.

Four-time world champion Max Verstappen has racked up 12 points with a best finish of sixth place at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, while new team-mate Isack Hadjar has collected four points.

Both drivers have complained about the RB22's poor handling and balance characteristics during the first three races. 

Last week it was announced that Verstappen’s long-serving race engineer, and Red Bull’s head of racing, Gianpiero Lambiase, had agreed to join McLaren from 2028.

Lambiase is the latest high-profile figure to depart Red Bull and join McLaren, following former chief designer Rob Marshall and ex-head of strategy Will Courtenay.

Red Bull has also lost legendary designer Adrian Newey and its former sporting director Jonathan Wheatley to rivals in recent years.