Jos Verstappen on Lambiase's move and Max's F1 future

Jos Verstappen has confirmed the paddock knew for some time about Gianpiero Lambiase's planned move to McLaren and downplayed its immediate impact on his son Max, while delivering a sharp critique of modern Formula 1's technical regulations. The four-time champion's father suggested Max is more likely to continue racing despite his 2021 comment about quitting if his race engineer left, but admitted the current F1 cars are less enjoyable to drive than GT3 machinery.

Why it matters:

Lambiase has been Max Verstappen's race engineer for all four of his world championships, forming one of the most successful driver-engineer partnerships in the sport's history. His confirmed departure for 2028, while distant, raises fundamental questions about team dynamics and driver satisfaction at Red Bull, a team already navigating internal stability. Jos's comments amplify existing speculation about Max's long-term commitment to both the team and the sport itself.

The details:

• Knowledge of the Move: Jos revealed the Verstappen camp was aware of Lambiase's McLaren opportunity well in advance. "We’ve known for a while, and we also knew when it would happen," he stated, adding they encouraged the engineer to take the role.
• Downplaying the Impact: He framed the remaining time—roughly a year and a half—as sufficient, placing the onus on Red Bull to find a suitable replacement. On Max's past vow to quit if Lambiase left, Jos noted, "I think things have changed... Certainly after four championships, you’ve achieved a lot together."
• Critique of Modern F1: Jos was vocal about his dissatisfaction with the current regulatory era, calling it "crazy that GT3 is nicer to race than Formula 1." He argued the sport has become more of an engineering contest where drivers cannot make the decisive difference, specifically criticizing the impact of energy management.
• Max's Current Mindset: The comments align with Max's own post-Japan remarks about needing to "figure out" his future, citing the regulations and diminished pure driving enjoyment as key factors.

What's next:

While Jos believes his son will "just continue," the landscape around Verstappen remains highly fluid.

• His contract with Red Bull runs through 2028, but internal reports suggest continuing with the team is now considered a lower-ranked option.
• If he remains in F1, a move to either Mercedes or Ferrari appears to be the most plausible alternative.
• The growing sentiment within his circle is that a full retirement from Formula 1, while not decided, is a genuine and increasingly considered possibility.