Jos Verstappen says money drove Lambiase’s switch to McLaren

McLaren has secured GianPiero Lambiase, Max Verstappen’s long‑time race engineer, as its chief racing officer, a role he’ll start by 2028 when his Red Bull contract expires. Lambiase’s father, former F1 driver Jos Verstappen, hinted the switch was driven by a ‘lot of money’, underscoring the financial muscle McLaren now wields.

Why it matters:

• Lambiase’s departure removes a key architect behind Red Bull’s race‑day strategy, potentially impacting Max Verstappen’s on‑track performance.
• The high‑pay offer highlights McLaren’s new financial clout, signalling its intent to compete for top engineering talent and broaden its championship aspirations.

The details:

• He will join McLaren as chief racing officer by 2028, reporting to team principal Andrea Stella.
• Lambiase spent 13 years at Red Bull, guiding Max Verstappen to four world titles, and previously held senior engineering roles at Ferrari.
• Jos Verstappen posted that his son’s engineer “asked for my approval” and was told to “grab the offer” – a nod to the salary’s size.

What's next:

• McLaren may groom Lambiase as a future team‑principal candidate, leveraging his cross‑team experience.
• Red Bull must replace a seasoned race engineer, likely accelerating internal promotions or poaching elsewhere, while other teams watch the compensation benchmark.