Max Verstappen will now race without a chief mechanic as Lee Stevenson moves from Red Bull.
Max Verstappen's chief mechanic Lee Stevenson has announced he is taking time out from his Red Bull career and leaving the Milton Keynes-based team after 18 years.
Lee Stevenson leaves Red Bull
Stevenson joined Red Bull in 2006 and worked as number two mechanic until being promoted to number one mechanic in 2014. He became Max Verstappen's chief race mechanic at the start of 2023 and has worked closely with the Dutch driver as part of the crew since Verstappen was promoted to Red Bull in 2016.
But Stevenson is embarking on a new path, taking a job with a team “on the other side of the pit lane” and moving to Japan. It has been agreed that Stevenson will leave Red Bull during the 2023 season.
Stevenson confirmed his retirement on Instagram with a farewell message from Red Bull's MK-7 facility in Milton Keynes. There he stood alongside all the cars he had worked on with the team over the years.
“I thought I'd hop on over here, but I just wanted to let everyone know that you won't be seeing any more of my posts from Red Bull because today is my last day!” he said.
“It's been an amazing 18 years and everything I've accomplished here with the team has been absolutely incredible.
“We have been working on the development from our first car, the RB2, to the RB16B and, of course, the RB19.
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“It's been an amazing journey. I just want to thank everyone here. The time I've spent here has been amazing.
“When I started in 2006, I never thought I would win a race, get a pole, or win a championship. But we were able to accomplish all of that. And that's really great.”
“Now on to the next chapter. That chapter begins on Monday when I fly to Japan and start working with my new team on the other side of the pit lane.
“It's going to be a big challenge, but one I'm ready for!”
Stevenson's last day at Red Bull was March 28th and unfortunately for him he was unable to end his tenure at Red Bull with a victory as Verstappen retired from last weekend's Australian Grand Prix due to rear brake problems on his RB20. .
Chris Genty will replace Stevenson as Red Bull's chief mechanic, a role he has held since the beginning of this season.
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