Toto Wolff has worrying Red Bull theory and rubs salt in Christian Horner’s wounds

Red Bull are winless in seven Grands Prix, and that run will likely continue this weekend in Singapore.

F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan

Christian Horner has been placed in a tricky situation at Red Bull (Image: Getty)

Toto Wolff believes that Red Bull’s current difficulties are linked to the recent key staff departures. Christian Horner has been struggling to maintain a harmonious camp this season, and the likes of Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley have departed.

Red Bull travel to Singapore this weekend without a win in the last seven races and have dropped off the top of the Constructors’ Championship standings with Oscar Piastri’s second Grand Prix victory moving McLaren 20 points clear.

With Ferrari hot on their tails, Red Bull could soon find themselves third in the standings and with Lando Norris now just 59 points behind Max Verstappen heading into the team’s toughest race of the season, there is no guarantee that the Dutchman will secure a fourth Drivers’ Championship crown either.

According to Mercedes team principal Wolff, the recent wave of departures may be having an impact on Red Bull’s form. “It’s unbelievable how things have gone backwards for them,” he told OE24. “When you lose so many important people, it has to have some effect.”

Horner has been working hard to ensure that Red Bull are well structured to bounce back from their ongoing slump. Ahead of the Singapore Grand Prix, the reigning world champions announced an internal restructure.

The headline news from the restructuring was a new role for Gianpiero Lambiase. Verstappen’s long-serving race engineer brushed off interest from McLaren and Ferrari, committing to a new deal under the role of head of racing, although he will continue to be the voice on the pit wall for the three-time world champion.

F1 Grand Prix of Azerbaijan

Toto Wolff had a dim assessment of the Red Bull predicament (Image: Getty)

Elsewhere, Stephen Knowles has been moved into the role of head of sporting regulations, while Ricard Wolverson will act as the head of racing operations. There is also a new position for Gerrard O’Reilly, who has been appointed as head of logistics.

Discussing the new internal structure which will hopefully set Red Bull up for long-term success, Horner said: “We are in the midst of a period of significant change and development at Oracle Red Bull Racing, and in light of the challenges to come, we have made the decision to alter the structure of the race team.

“The appointments will serve to give us greater capacity across a number of crucial areas and ultimately will, I believe, make the team more competitive. For me, it is especially rewarding to have promoted people from within.

“We have a huge resource of exceptionally talented people at Oracle Red Bull Racing and I am delighted that we can give them the opportunity to shine in roles that were not previously open. It’s a step forward for the team as a whole.”