February 25, 2025 – London, UK

In a dramatic twist ahead of the 2025 Formula 1 season, Red Bull Racing has been hit with a significant setback as senior engine technician Calum Nicholas steps away from Max Verstappen’s garage crew. The announcement comes just as McLaren’s Lando Norris took a cheeky swipe at the reigning world champion, questioning Verstappen’s ability to hold onto his title amidst the team’s recent struggles. With Red Bull unveiling their new RB21 car at the F1 75 season launch in London, the pressure is mounting—and Norris isn’t holding back.

Nicholas, a pivotal figure in Red Bull’s pit-stop team and Verstappen’s car crew since joining in 2015, confirmed his departure from the race team to take up a new role as a Red Bull Racing ambassador. The Brit, whose book *Life in the Pitlane* hits shelves on February 27, has been instrumental in Verstappen’s four consecutive Drivers’ Championship victories from 2021 to 2024, as well as Red Bull’s Constructors’ triumphs in 2022 and 2023. His exit leaves a noticeable void in Verstappen’s support system as the Dutch driver prepares to defend his crown in what promises to be a fiercely competitive season.

The timing couldn’t be worse for Red Bull. After a rollercoaster 2024 season that saw the team slump to third in the Constructors’ Championship—marked by a painful 10-race winless streak—Nicholas’s departure is being viewed as a “major loss” by insiders. Verstappen’s candid feedback during last year’s bruising Italian Grand Prix was credited with sparking a late-season turnaround, but the RB21’s ability to reclaim Red Bull’s dominance remains under scrutiny.

Enter Lando Norris, McLaren’s rising star and Verstappen’s fierce rival. Speaking at the F1 75 launch event, where all 10 teams showcased their 2025 liveries, Norris didn’t miss the chance to stir the pot. “It’s going to be tough to keep the title when your team’s falling apart like that,” Norris quipped with a smirk, directly referencing Nicholas’s exit. “Max has had it all his way for years, but losing key people? Good luck holding onto that crown with one hand tied behind your back.”

Norris’s jab comes as no surprise given the intensifying rivalry between the two drivers. In 2024, Norris emerged as one of Verstappen’s closest challengers, pushing McLaren to the forefront with a series of standout performances. With Red Bull’s grip on the sport loosening last season, Norris and his team are poised to capitalize on any weakness in 2025—and the loss of a trusted technician like Nicholas only fuels their confidence.

Nicholas, meanwhile, took to social media to clarify his new role, expressing pride in his decade-long tenure with Red Bull. “It’s been an incredible journey—four Drivers’ titles with Max and two Constructors’ wins,” he wrote. “Now, I’m excited to step into this ambassador role and represent the team in a new way.” While his move is framed as a promotion, it leaves Verstappen without a key ally in the garage as he prepares to tackle the RB21’s early challenges.

At the London event, Verstappen remained stoic when asked about the RB21’s potential. “We’ve worked hard to fix what went wrong last year,” he said. “The car feels promising, but we’ll see on the track.” Yet, with Nicholas’s departure and Norris’s taunts ringing in the air, the Dutchman’s pursuit of a fifth straight title suddenly looks more precarious than ever.

Red Bull’s 2024 struggles—highlighted by their drop from Constructors’ champions to third place—exposed vulnerabilities that rivals like McLaren and Ferrari eagerly exploited. The RB21, unveiled with high hopes, is seen as a critical test of the team’s ability to “restamp their authority,” as one pundit put it. But with a shuffled garage crew and Norris circling like a shark smelling blood, the road ahead looks anything but smooth.

As the F1 2025 season looms, all eyes will be on Verstappen to see if he can defy the odds—and Norris’s mockery—to keep his championship reign alive. Will Red Bull’s “major loss” prove to be the crack that breaks their dynasty, or can Verstappen rise above the chaos? The countdown to the first race has never felt so tense.