Former Red Bull mechanic says Verstappen’s ‘secret weapon’ may be next to go

April 16, 2026 Oliver Obel

Fresh doubts over Red Bull’s internal stability have surfaced following claims that another key figure could leave the Formula 1 team, amid an already significant leadership shake-up.

Former Red Bull mechanic Kenny Handkammer said on The Two Mechanics podcast that Head of Strategy Hannah Schmitz is among those rumored to be considering an exit, adding to a growing list of high-profile departures.

“The decline of Red Bull is quite sad,” Handkammer said. “Look who he has lost, Christian Horner, Adrian Newey, Jonathan Wheatley, Gianpiero Lambiase and Will Courtenay. It looks like Hannah Schmitz… is rumoured to go too.”

His comments come as Red Bull navigates a difficult start to the 2026 season and a period of broader transition behind the scenes.

Leadership changes raise concerns

The team has already confirmed the departure of race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, joining senior figures including Horner, Newey, Wheatley and Courtenay in leaving the Milton Keynes-based outfit.

While no official announcement has been made regarding Schmitz, speculation about further exits has intensified questions about how Red Bull will rebuild its technical and operational structure.

Schmitz has played a central role in the team’s success over the past decade and a half. After joining in 2009, she rose through the ranks to lead strategy operations, an area widely regarded as critical to Red Bull’s race-day execution.

Her influence has been publicly acknowledged in the past. Dutch outlet HLN described her as a “secret weapon” behind Max Verstappen’s success, reflecting her reputation within the paddock.

On-track struggles add pressure

At the same time, Red Bull’s performance has dipped compared to its recent dominance. The team has yet to challenge consistently at the front in the opening races of the new regulation era.

Verstappen’s results underline that shift. The reigning world champion has not finished higher than sixth so far this season, alongside a retirement and another finish outside the top positions.

He has also voiced concerns about the direction of the sport under the 2026 regulations, prompting ongoing speculation about his long-term future, as reported by multiple outlets.

Strategy role under the spotlight

Schmitz’s importance has previously been highlighted by Verstappen himself. Speaking after his victory at the 2022 Hungarian Grand Prix, where strategy proved decisive, he praised her composure under pressure.

“You can’t afford many mistakes. it’s of course very hard to always be on the good side,” Verstappen said at the time. “Today, I think Hannah, our strategist, was insanely calm. Yeah, she’s very good.”

Any potential departure would therefore represent more than just another staffing change, raising further questions about continuity at a team adjusting to both competitive and structural challenges.

For now, Red Bull has not commented on the speculation, but the combination of on-track struggles and ongoing personnel changes suggests a period of uncertainty for one of Formula 1’s most successful teams.

Sources: The Two Mechanics podcast, HLN