2024 proved to be a tumultuous year for Red Bull. Despite Max Verstappen clinching the driver’s title for the team in Las Vegas, there was a great deal of discord within the team. As a result, seven key figures within the team have decided to bid farewell to the Austrian outfit. It also appears that the partnership with sponsor ByBit is coming to an end.
The past season started on a low note for Red Bull, with allegations of misconduct against Christian Horner. Max Verstappen had previously admitted that there had been “discord within the team” throughout the rest of the season. Ultimately, it seems that the disagreements within the team have led to the departure of seven key employees.
The most significant loss for Red Bull came in May when it was officially announced that Adrian Newey would be leaving the team after eighteen years. The top designer will start at Aston Martin in 2025. Subsequently, in August, Sporting Director Jonathan Wheatley also decided to leave, followed by Will Courtenay, who is moving to McLaren. Vehicle Performance Manager Vin Dhanani, designer Steve Winstalney, aerodynamics specialist Michael Broadhurst, and chief mechanic Lee Stevenson completed the exodus.
End of Partnership with ByBit?
In addition to the seven employees, it appears that Red Bull may have lost its sponsor ByBit. The team has removed ByBit from their team partner page. The cryptocurrency company was the largest sponsor in Formula 1, paying 50 million dollars per year to the team. ByBit had a three-year contract to sponsor Red Bull, starting from the 2022 season. Whether the partnership will continue is still unknown.
