Mercedes have been heavily linked with a move for Max Verstappen, who could find a way out of his Red Bull contract, with Toto Wolff's superior green lighting the move

Concerns about a brain drain in Milton Keynes are well-founded. Aside from Horner, Red Bull have lost Jonathan Wheatley, Rob Marshall and Adrian Newey since 2023, with the spine of the organisation that dominated the start of the ground effect era now working elsewhere.

Amidst the barrage of Max Verstappen to Mercedes headlines, one key aspect has been ignored - the impact on Red Bull and Racing Bulls.