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A key figure in Red Bull's successes and a trusted confidant of Max Verstappen, Gianpiero Lambiase is set to join McLaren when his contract expires. This strategic move goes beyond a simple personnel change and is already raising many questions about the balance of power in Formula 1.
This announcement is making waves far beyond the paddocks. Red Bull has officially confirmed the departure of Gianpiero Lambiase, Max Verstappen's longtime race engineer. Starting in 2028, the Briton will join McLaren to take on a strategic role within the team's sporting management.
Having joined Red Bull in 2015, Lambiase established himself as much more than just an engineer. A true mastermind on the track, he has worked alongside Verstappen since 2016 and contributed directly to his four consecutive world titles. Their relationship, marked by high standards and the occasional on-air spat, has become one of the most iconic in modern Formula 1.
His departure thus marks the end of a highly successful duo, but also the beginning of a new chapter for McLaren. The British team, already on the rise after two consecutive constructors' titles, is counting on Lambiase to strengthen its structure and support Andrea Stella in managing race operations. A strategic move that confirms the manufacturer's ambitions against Red Bull. For the Austrian team, this announcement is part of a series of major departures in recent years. Several key figures have left the organization, weakening a structure once renowned for its stability. In this context, the loss of Lambiase is another major blow.
But the most significant impact could be on Max Verstappen himself. Very attached to his engineer, the Dutch driver has often emphasized the importance of this relationship to his performance. In 2021, he even hinted that Lambiase's departure could heavily influence his own career decisions, going so far as to suggest that he too might retire the day his engineer left the scene. With his contract still active, this statement resonates today with particular poignancy. However, his father, Jos Verstappen, denies any rumors of early retirement. "A lot has changed. Especially after four world titles, you've accomplished so much together. Of course, it all depends on Max, but personally I simply think he'll continue," he said during the TAC Rally shakedown.
