Red Bull Racing sign new strategy chief

Although the news has not been confirmed by the team, there are suggestions that he will be joining Red Bull at the start of next year after seeing out his current contract with McLaren.

The Milton Keynes-based outfit have been on a huge recruitment drive over the winter in a bid to put together the personnel that they believe they need to allow them to fight for wins. Insiders suggest they see Martin's capture as one of their 'key' moves. He was McLaren's Team Leader of Operational Research.

As well as his strategy input which proved crucial at races, Martin provided factory based technological support to the race team. This allowed them to have access to data on parts and strategy that would help their performance at the track.

He helped co-ordinate software to give the team instant access to data on specific car components, rather than needing to refer back to systems at the factory. This often proved crucial in helping the team deal with problems encountered on cars during races.

Speaking a few years ago about the systems that he helped set-up, Martin said: "The pitwall team no longer runs to us for help. Their silence is possibly the highest praise you can receive: it speaks volumes for the display system's value."

Earlier this month, Red Bull Racing announced that they had appointed Renault's Keith Saunt as their new Operations Director.

Red Bull Racing's capture of Martin comes after the recruitment of technical director Adrian Newey and aerodynamicist Peter Prodromou from McLaren. Newey has already joined the outfit, while Prodromou is expected to switch teams at the start of next year.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis admitted recently that losing staff to rival teams was a part of F1 life.

"We are totally committed to our current design and engineering group," he said. "They are doing an excellent job... The vast majority of people in the organisation are on long multi-year contracts and there is an inevitability that they are approached by some of the teams that don't have the depth or calibre of staff that we enjoy.

"But that is just part of having a Formula One Grand Prix team and doing a good job. People are constantly going to be approached, but at the moment we are very stable, very focused and we have a very committed group of engineers and mechanics."