Monaghan rumour adds to Red Bull uncertainty
Ralf Schumacher has claimed that another senior Red Bull figure could be weighing up his future, as the team continues to deal with the fallout from several major departures.
According to RacingNews365’s report, Schumacher suggested on the Backstage Boxengasse podcast that Paul Monaghan, Red Bull’s chief engineer for car engineering, may be the next significant name to leave the Milton Keynes team.
The claim remains speculative. Schumacher made clear that he did not have direct knowledge of the situation, saying: “That’s what you hear, anyway. I’m not exactly on top of the situation, of course.”
Monaghan has been part of Red Bull since 2005 and is one of the team’s longest-serving technical figures. His possible departure would therefore carry weight, especially at a time when Red Bull is already trying to rebuild parts of the structure that helped deliver its dominant run with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.
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Verstappen comments draw attention
Schumacher said he was struck by Monaghan’s recent public comments about Verstappen and Red Bull’s current form.
Quoted by RacingNews365, Schumacher said Monaghan had not spoken “against Max Verstappen,” but had offered a degree of balance after the Dutchman’s criticism of the car.
Schumacher added: “That was the first time an official representative had dared to speak out against it to any extent.”
The comments come after a difficult start to the new regulation cycle for Red Bull. Monaghan himself recently admitted that the team was not meeting its own standards, saying the car’s performance was “not the standards we set ourselves, or those that Max sets us.”
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Red Bull’s senior ranks keep changing
The Monaghan rumour follows a period of significant change at Red Bull.
According to Formula 1’s official report, Christian Horner left Red Bull in July 2025, with Laurent Mekies appointed as CEO of Red Bull Racing.
Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley had already left the organisation, while Helmut Marko also departed after more than two decades with the Red Bull operation.
The long-term picture has been further complicated by the confirmed loss of Verstappen’s race engineer. According to Formula 1’s report on Gianpiero Lambiase, Lambiase will leave Red Bull in 2028 to join McLaren as chief racing officer.
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Schumacher points to Marko void
Schumacher believes the absence of Marko has left Red Bull without one of its most important internal stabilisers.
Quoted by RacingNews365, Schumacher said: “Above all, it shows who’s missing, and I can’t say it often enough, it’s Dr Helmut Marko.”
He said Marko had previously provided direction, supported both the team and drivers, and handled many problems behind the scenes.
“He solved problems, found the right people for key positions, and kept all sorts of things running smoothly. You shouldn’t underestimate that,” Schumacher said.
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Schumacher also pointed to the changed corporate structure at Red Bull following the death of company co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz, arguing that the team no longer has the same internal clarity it once did.
No confirmation of a Monaghan exit
For now, there is no formal indication that Monaghan is leaving Red Bull. The claim rests on Schumacher’s comments and should be treated as a rumour rather than a confirmed development.
Still, the timing makes it notable. Red Bull’s technical group is under pressure, Verstappen’s long-term future continues to attract scrutiny, and several of the people most closely associated with the team’s dominant years have already moved on.
If Monaghan were to follow, it would deepen the sense that Red Bull’s most successful era is being dismantled one departure at a time.
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