Former Honda technical director Geoffrey Willis has joined Red Bull Technology, the company that designs the cars for both of Red Bull's Formula One teams.

Red Bull said in a statement on Tuesday that the 47-year-old Briton would start work on July 23, following this weekend's European Grand Prix at the Nuerburgring.

Willis will report to Red Bull's chief technical officer Adrian Newey, with whom he worked at former world champions Williams as chief aerodynamicist before moving to Honda's predecessors BAR in 2002.

Willis left under-performing Honda last year, before their first victory in Hungary with Briton Jenson Button, and takes over from Mark Smith who has been offered another senior position within the company.

Red Bull Racing are seventh in the championship while sister team Toro Rosso have yet to score a point and are 10th. Honda are languishing in ninth place with one point.

Red Bull Racing's team boss Christian Horner recognised this week that, at the halfway point in the season, the Renault-powered team's performance had not matched expectations.

The new seamless shift gearbox has caused many of the problems.