Ferrari swoop on troubled Red Bull as they 'intensify efforts to poach key engineers' - with uncertainty surrounding the futures of Christian Horner, Max Verstappen and Helmut Marko amid 'sex texts' scandal

Ferrari have reportedly wasted no time in capitalising on the turbulent situation unfolding at Red Bull and look set to swoop in to 'poach several key engineers' from the embattled Formula One team. 

It comes as much uncertainty has arisen over the futures of world champion Max Verstappen and motorsport advisor Helmut Marko, amid the 'text leak' scandal that has surrounded the Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, whose future is also under threat.

Amid the turbulence that has followed the constructors' champions in the past three weeks, Italian outlet Gazzetta Dello Sport have reported that Ferrari are looking to take advantage of the situation and have 'acted promptly to intensify contacts' with various members of the team led by Horner.

Ferrari, who have already signed Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes for next season, set to pose a big challenge to Red Bull this year, having been previously been linked with a move for technical director Pierre Wache and head of aerodynamics Enrico Balbo.

But according to Gazzetta, details emerged in Jeddah that Ferrari are keeping tabs on Red Bull's on-track aerodynamic development officer David Morgan, head of performance Ben Waterhouse and Alessandro Germani - leader of their aerodynamic development team.

Ferrari are reportedly interested in swooping in on several key Red Bull technicians amid turmoil at the Milton Keynes-based F1 side

It comes amid the situation that has surrounded team principal Christian Horner (left) in recent weeks, here pictured with Red Bull managing director Oliver Mintzlaff (right) 

Frederic Vasseur's side look set to go on a recruitment drive and have identified three key targets they could poach 

The outlet also claims that should Red Bull's chief technician, Adrian Newey, ever decide to leave his post, Ferrari would be keen to snap him up also.     

Morgan, a British technician, has been with the racing team for over six years, having previously worked at Williams as a track aerodynamicist. 

Waterhouse began his career in 2003, having previously worked as the head of vehicle performance at BMW-Sauber. Germani started his career working as an aerothermal engineer at FiatChrysler Automobiles, before joining up with Red Bull in 2014 as an aerodynamics engineer. He has subsequently risen to becoming an 'expert in CFD simulations' according to Gazzetta. 

It comes as Red Bull yesterday have denied claims that Horner would be sacked before Formula One's next Grand Prix in Australia, after claims had arisen that the team's shareholders had met in Dubai on Sunday night. 

His position has been under intense pressure after he had been accused of 'inappropriate behaviour' by a female colleague before the start of the 2024 season. After the team launched an investigation into the claims, Horner was subsequently cleared and it had appeared that he would remain in his position. It emerged on Sunday that the complainant will 'appeal that verdict'.

Head of performance Ben Whitehouse (left) is one technician Ferrari are targeting to approach

Ferrari are also open to snapping up Red Bull's chief technical officer Adrian Newey (right)

Uncertainty has been rising over the futures of Helmut Marko (left), Max Verstappen (second-left) and Horner (second right), here pictured after the Grand Prix in Jeddah

Less than 24 hours later a series of screenshots showing a text message conversation that was alleged to have been between the 50-year-old and his accusor were shared online and to key figures in Formula One. 

Red Bull had publicly backed their under-fire team principal amid the alleged text leaks, with Marko's future at the Formula One team coming under some doubt. 

Accusations had emerged over the weekend that the 80-year-old would be suspended amid accusations that he had leaked evidence from Red Bull's internal investigation.

Marko's future was subsequently thrust into doubt, with Verstappen, loyal to the man who had helped him rise through the ranks at Red Bull, claiming that should Marko leave he would also depart the Milton Keynes-based side. 

The motorsport advisor has since insisted that he won't be leaving the Formula One team ahead of the Saudi Grand Prix but in a fresh turn of events revealed he had previously thoughgt about leaving the team.

'I was already thinking about leaving at the end of last year, but I also think we should think about Dietrich [Mateschitz's, the Red Bull founder] legacy, what his ideas were and where they took us. We owe that to him,' the Austrian said to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf on Sunday.