Gianpiero Lambiase Set to Leave Red Bull For McLaren
Red Bull is set to lose another key figure, with Max Verstappen’s long-time race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase expected to join McLaren after his current contract ends, De Telegraaf.
Lambiase, 45, remains under contract with Red Bull until 2027 and is not expected to leave before then. However, multiple reports indicate he will move to McLaren in 2028 after accepting a lucrative offer.
Major move in the paddock
The British engineer, who also serves as Red Bull’s Head of Racing, had attracted interest from several teams, including Aston Martin and Williams. Sources suggest McLaren secured his services with a significantly higher salary than his current deal.
His future arrival could position McLaren for a potential leadership change, with team principal Andrea Stella linked to a possible return to Ferrari.
Given Lambiase’s seniority and Stella’s uncertain future, logic dictates that he could become McLaren’s team boss in 2028, working under Zak Brown.
Perhaps Stella will stay and they will co-exist within the hierarchy, but the mention of a return to Ferrari should worry Fred Vasseur, who only signed a new contract last year after rumours about a potential leadership change.
Lambiase is the latest high-profile figure to leave Red Bull, following departures including designer Rob Marshall and strategist Will Courtenay, who has already joined McLaren as sporting director. In recent years, the team has also seen exits of senior figures such as Adrian Newey and others in key roles.
Close partnership with Verstappen
Gianpiero Lambiase has worked closely with Verstappen since the Dutch driver joined Red Bull’s main team in 2016. The pair have built a strong working relationship, with Lambiase previously stating he would not want to work with another driver in the same role.
Neither Red Bull nor McLaren has officially commented on the reported move.
Kursiv also reports that Max Verstappen has suggested he will use the upcoming break in the Formula 1 calendar to reflect on his future in the sport, admitting he is no longer enjoying racing under current conditions.
With his long-time engineer leaving the team, will Verstappen stay in the sport after his contract ends?
