Horner shares GP's 'hidden talent' as engineer's McLaren move confirmed
Christian Horner has posted images showing Max Verstappen's race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, playing drums, offering a personal touch just after Lambiase's confirmed move to McLaren. The post also featured other F1 figures in musical roles, shared as Horner's own non-compete clause expires, freeing him to seek a new role in the sport.
Former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has shared a personal glimpse into the F1 paddock, posting images of Max Verstappen's race engineer Gianpiero 'GP' Lambiase playing drums just days after the key figure's move to McLaren was confirmed. The social media post, highlighting Lambiase's musical side alongside other F1 personalities, offers a human moment amid the ongoing high-profile personnel shifts reshaping the grid.
Why it matters:
Horner's post provides a rare, informal look at the relationships and personalities behind the headlines of F1's intense 'silly season'. As a wave of technical talent, including Adrian Newey and now Lambiase, departs Red Bull for rivals, these personal insights underscore that the sport's transfers involve individuals with lives and talents beyond the garage, even as their moves carry significant competitive implications.
The details:
- On Instagram, Horner posted several images from what appears to be a paddock gathering, with the first caption reading "GP's hidden talent," showing Lambiase behind a drum kit at Silverstone.
- Other photos featured F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali and 1996 world champion Damon Hill playing guitar, as well as a group dubbed the 'Spice Boys'—including Max Verstappen, Daniel Ricciardo, Pierre Gasly, and Brendon Hartley—preparing to sing.
- The post comes in the same week it was announced Lambiase, Verstappen's long-time race engineer and a pivotal voice on the radio, will join McLaren after his Red Bull contract expires, following other key departures like Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay to the Woking-based team.
- Horner himself is now a free agent, with his standard nine-month 'gardening leave' from Red Bull having ended, allowing him to potentially return to work in Formula 1.
What's next:
While Horner is technically able to return to the F1 paddock, immediate opportunities appear limited. Reports suggest he is unlikely to take on a new role before the summer break, with September being the earliest realistic timeframe, and even then only if a suitable position arises. Meanwhile, the focus will remain on how McLaren integrates its new high-profile recruits, like Lambiase, into its structure as it continues its push to challenge at the very front of the grid.