News Summary
- Max Verstappen’s chief mechanic Jon Caller has left Red Bull Racing after a decade with the Formula 1 team.
- Caller will join Ford’s factory Hypercar programme for the 2027 World Endurance Championship.
- His departure follows the move of his twin brother, Matt Caller, from Red Bull to Audi earlier in 2026.
Max Verstappen will lose another experienced member of his Red Bull Racing crew after chief mechanic Jon Caller confirmed his departure from Formula 1 to join Ford’s factory endurance racing programme for 2027. The British mechanic leaves the Milton Keynes-based team after ten years, having contributed to four drivers’ world championships and two constructors’ titles.
Caller announced his decision in a farewell message to colleagues, marking the end of a long association with Red Bull and the beginning of a new role in the World Endurance Championship.
The move comes as Ford prepares to return to the top category of international endurance racing with an LMDh Hypercar, targeting outright victories against manufacturers such as Ferrari, Toyota, Porsche and Cadillac.
Jon Caller says farewell after ten years at Red Bull
Caller reflected on his time in Formula 1 in a farewell message shared after his departure was confirmed.
“The time has really come for me to say goodbye to Formula 1. Ten years, four drivers’ championships and two constructors’ championships later,” he wrote.
“I’ll miss the cars, the destinations and the glamour, but above all the people who made this experience so enjoyable.”
The mechanic also highlighted the relationships he developed during his decade with Red Bull.
“I’ve made friends for life and collected stories I’ll never forget. Now it’s time to start an exciting new chapter, with Ford returning to the highest level of endurance racing. Great moments await us once again.”
Caller had worked with several Red Bull drivers before becoming Verstappen’s chief mechanic.
His previous assignments included the other side of the team’s garage, where he worked with Sergio Pérez, Liam Lawson and Yuki Tsunoda.
He was promoted to the leading role on Verstappen’s car at the beginning of the 2026 season, following his brother’s departure.
Red Bull loses both Caller brothers in 2026
Jon’s departure means Red Bull has now lost both Caller brothers during the same season.
Matt Caller moved to Audi earlier in 2026, prompting Red Bull to reorganise its garage structure and assign Jon to Verstappen’s car.
Both brothers had previously worked with the Dutch driver during his successful years at the team.
The latest change adds to a period of personnel turnover at Red Bull, which has undergone several organisational adjustments while attempting to recover its competitiveness.
Verstappen has remained one of the team’s strongest assets throughout 2026, winning races despite Mercedes securing both world championships.
As GRANDE PRÊMIO’s analysis of the final five-race period showed, Red Bull has made substantial gains during the second half of the season.
However, retaining experienced technical and operational personnel remains important as the team prepares for 2027.
Red Bull has not publicly announced who will replace Caller as Verstappen’s chief mechanic.
Ford prepares return to top-class endurance racing
Caller’s next assignment will take him into a different type of international motorsport.
Ford is preparing a factory programme in the WEC Hypercar class for 2027, with an LMDh prototype developed to compete for overall victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and other major endurance events.
The American manufacturer has already begun testing its new car, including running at Circuit Paul Ricard in France.
Ford has also assembled an experienced driver roster for the programme.
The group includes Matt Campbell, Nick Yelloly, Tom Blomqvist, Logan Sargeant, Mike Rockenfeller and Sebastian Priaulx, who are expected to share driving duties across two factory entries.
The project represents Ford’s return to the highest level of prototype racing, building on the manufacturer’s history at Le Mans.
Ford famously won the French endurance classic four consecutive times between 1966 and 1969 with the GT40.
The manufacturer has since competed successfully in GT racing, but the 2027 programme will mark a renewed attempt to fight for outright honours.
Why the move matters for Red Bull and Ford
Although mechanics rarely attract the same attention as drivers or senior engineers, experienced crew members are important to the operation of a Formula 1 team.
A chief mechanic coordinates work on the car, helps ensure procedures are followed and plays a central role in preparing the machinery for each session.
The departure of an experienced employee therefore requires a replacement who can maintain the same operational standards.
For Ford, Caller’s arrival brings experience from a championship-winning Formula 1 environment to a new endurance programme.
The two disciplines have different technical and sporting demands, but both require reliability, precise preparation and efficient teamwork.
Ford will hope that personnel recruited from successful operations can help accelerate its development ahead of the 2027 WEC season.
For Verstappen, the immediate priority remains the final three Formula 1 races of 2026, beginning with Las Vegas on November 19–21.
GRANDE PRÊMIO is following the 2026 Formula 1 championship and the preparations for Ford’s return to the top class of endurance racing.
