Red Bull has been weakened, and Ferrari and McLaren strengthened, by F1’s latest personnel moves.
That is the claim of Mercedes boss Ross Brawn, who said the dominant champions will miss the input of aerodynamics chief Peter Prodromou, who has been signed by McLaren.
"I don’t think any team can lose someone of that experience and calibre without it having some impact," Brawn is quoted by the Guardian.
Another move that will have an impact, Brawn added, is James Allison’s switch from Lotus to Ferrari.
"James Allison has gone from Lotus having designed a very good car there, to Ferrari, and I am sure next year their car will be a lot better," he said.
"That’s the nature of the business.
"It happens in F1 all the time. Red Bull are where they are because they took Adrian (Newey) out of McLaren. It’s the nature of F1."
Meanwhile, Brawn defended Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton, after the British driver made bad-tempered and contradictory radio calls to his engineer in Austin.
When told to look after his tyres, the 2008 world champion hit back during the US grand prix: "That’s what I’m doing man, let me focus."
But after the ensuing radio silence, Hamilton later insisted: "You need to give me some feedback, man — tyres, temperatures."
When asked about Hamilton’s inconsistency, Brawn said: "We are just getting used to working with Lewis. It’s not problematic."
Hamilton said he had apologised to his engineer for the outbursts.
"The poor guy has come on the radio and then I come back at him -– I will always say sorry," he said.
"Stuff does not come out like ’Hey buddy, just give me a little moment here’. It’s like you are holding on to a bull and it’s like ’Give me a frickin’ second!’" Hamilton explained.