While Max Verstappen struggles to get Red Bull off the line in 2026, the engineer who used to make those starts look effortless has quietly walked out the door and into the competition. Michael Manning, one of the longest-serving and most trusted members of Verstappen’s inner circle, has officially begun his new role at Williams as Chief Engineer, Trackside Engineering.
Fifteen Years, Four Titles, One Exit
Manning joined Red Bull in January 2011 and spent the better part of fifteen years embedded in the team’s championship machinery. As control engineer, he was responsible for Verstappen’s race starts, overseeing clutch systems and the entire launch sequence. In short, he was the man ensuring Max left the line faster than everyone else. He stepped back from his role at the end of 2024, served out a period with the team through last year’s Abu Dhabi finale, and then departed officially.
It is worth noting that Red Bull’s starts have been noticeably less clinical in 2026. Draw your own conclusions.
A Red Bull Reunion at Grove
There is a certain irony in Manning landing at Williams, a team currently fielding two former Red Bull-backed drivers in Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz. Manning worked alongside both during their time in the Red Bull ecosystem, and he was clearly enthusiastic about the reunion.
“It’s a real highlight to be working alongside Carlos and Alex again, having crossed paths with both earlier in our careers. I am eager to get started and contribute to the next chapter of this legendary team.” – Michael Manning
Manning also cited the pull of Williams’ ambition, praising the hunger at Grove to return to the sharp end of the grid. The team’s nine constructors’ championships and seven drivers’ titles got a mention too, as they always do when someone is trying to make a midfield move sound prestigious.
Another Brick Out of the Wall
Manning is far from the first to leave. Adrian Newey, Rob Marshall, Jonathan Wheatley, and now even race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase have all headed for the exit. Red Bull’s internal collapse has been well documented, and each departure strips another layer of institutional knowledge from a team that once looked untouchable.
Williams, meanwhile, sit eighth in the constructors’ standings after a difficult start to 2026. Manning’s arrival will not transform the FW48 overnight. But if the ambition is real, bringing in someone who knows exactly how a world championship operation functions is a reasonable place to start.
Red Bull’s loss is Williams’ gain. And Verstappen, already battling car limitations heading into Spa, keeps watching familiar faces disappear in his mirrors.
