McLaren confirms surprise signing of Verstappen's race engineer from Red Bull

McLaren has confirmed the high-profile signing of GianPiero 'GP' Lambiase, Max Verstappen's long-time race engineer, from Red Bull Racing. Lambiase will join the team in the role of Chief Racing Officer, reporting to Team Principal Andrea Stella, when his current contract expires "no later than 2028." The move marks another significant talent acquisition from Red Bull by the resurgent Woking-based squad.

Why it matters:

Lambiase has been the strategic voice in Verstappen's ear since 2016, a cornerstone partnership during Red Bull's dominant era. His defection to a direct competitor is a major coup for McLaren and represents a substantial loss of institutional knowledge for Red Bull. It fuels ongoing speculation about the stability and long-term future of key personnel within the reigning champion team, even as both parties commit to seeing out his contract.

The details:

• The Role: Lambiase will join as Chief Racing Officer, a senior position working under Team Principal Andrea Stella. This scotches earlier rumors that he was being lined up as a direct successor to Stella, whose position remains secure.
• The Timeline: His move is confirmed for "no later than 2028," meaning he will continue working with Verstappen and Red Bull for the remainder of his contract. Red Bull's statement emphasized full commitment to further success together until his departure.
• The Competition: McLaren is believed to have fought off rival interest to secure Lambiase, with Aston Martin also reportedly having approached the highly-rated engineer.
• A Growing Trend: Lambiase becomes the latest in a series of key Red Bull personnel to move to McLaren, following Chief Designer Rob Marshall and Sporting Director Will Courtenay, signaling a deliberate strategy by Zak Brown to bolster the team's technical and operational leadership.

What's next:

The immediate focus will be on how this planned departure impacts the dynamic within Red Bull over the next few seasons. For McLaren, securing a figure of Lambiase's calibre for 2028 is a long-term play, aligning with their ambitious growth trajectory. The move intensifies the off-track talent war and puts further scrutiny on the driver market, as any potential shift for a star driver like Verstappen is often preceded by changes in their core support team.