P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Max Verstappen’s close team of engineers looked to be receiving a shake-up ahead of the new season – but that does not appear to be the case.
Despite previous reports suggesting otherwise, it has been confirmed that the key ally in Max Verstappen’s inner circle will remain in his role for the upcoming year. Verstappen, a four-time world champion, collaborates with a team of four Red Bull engineers on a permanent basis. Throughout 2024, Gianpiero Lambiase served as the chief engineer, supported by Tom Hart, David Mart, and Michael Manning. Although Manning was speculated to transition to a new position within Red Bull after the 2024 season, he will continue as the control engineer in 2025 according to Red Bull. Manning’s responsibility includes overseeing Verstappen’s race starts and ensuring successful launches during the crucial opening phase of each grand prix. Verstappen’s preference for a stable core team has yielded success, with the 27-year-old aiming for a fifth F1 title in a highly competitive season where multiple teams are expected to challenge for the championship.
