Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff claims that the team is hiring a "constant influx" of Red Bull people in its Formula 1 engine department. A number of staff members from Mercedes High Performance Powertrains are known to have been poached by Red Bull Powertrains, as the team looks forward to the 2026 engine rules with Ford. Mercedes was once the benchmark when the V6 turbo hybrids were introduced in 2014, which saw them become a dominant force through to the 2021 season. But Wolff has played down any impact of staff leaving to their rivals, when asked by media, including RacingNews365.com : "I think what I said before is that it is a very ambitious project with Red Bull Powertrains and a very courageous project. "HPP has 1,000 employees and lost some to Red Bull in the same way we lost some to Ferrari, and we lost some to Renault. And indeed, the other way around. "We are not bragging about any people that have joined us from Red Bull. I won't mention any names."
Wolff not concerned about people leaving
2026 will be the first time Red Bull has decided to go alone and not become an engine/power unit customer since its entry to F1 back in 2005. Even though they inherited a lot of the Honda operation, they still went on a recruitment drive with some being retired Mercedes personnel. Wolff says Mercedes is also hiring people from other outfits up and down the grid: "We have a constant influx of Red Bull people, as we have from the other teams. "I mean, [we] are often discussing that. So, you know that is happening all the time. "The people they've hired, we wish them the best. Some of them were retired in our organisation and ended up there in a leading position, but that's fine. They've been given a second lifeline."
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