Key Red Bull figure signs new contract after Newey exit

Red Bull chief engineer Paul Monaghan has agreed a new long-term contract to stay with the Milton Keynes-based squad, RacingNews365 understands.

In the aftermath of Adrian Newey's decision to step down as Chief Technical Officer and leave the team, questions about the future of other members of senior Red Bull technical staff were asked, with contracts understood to be coming up for renewal. 

These have included technical director Pierre Wache, sporting director Jonathan Wheatley, head of performance engineering Ben Waterhouse as well as Monaghan, who has been at Red Bull since it re-badged from Jaguar ahead of the 2005 season. 

RacingNews365 revealed earlier this month that Wache had agreed a long-term deal until the end of 2028, with Monaghan now also agreeing fresh terms to extend his stay. 

During the Miami weekend, rumours emerged that Wheatley could also be on the move, although RacingNews365's sources dismissed the idea of his departure.

Impact post Newey

Since Newey's departure was announced on May 1st, he has been removed from day-to-day technical responsibilities ahead of a departure by the end of the first quarter of 2025. 

Red Bull has been keen to play up the importance of the technical team around Newey, which also includes head of aerodynamics Enrico Balbo, who have largely been responsible for the creation of the recent title-winning machines, with Newey in a broader position as Group CTO. 

World champion Max Verstappen alluded to this when first asked about Newey's departure in Miami.

"I don't say he wasn't doing anything - but his role evolved. A lot of good people came into the team that strengthened the whole department," he said.

"I really trust that the technical team that we have, outside of Adrian, is very, very strong, and they have basically shown that with the last few years, how competitive the car is.

"From the outside it looks very dramatic, but I think if you actually know what is happening inside the team it is not as dramatic as it seems."