Red Bull engineer GianPiero Lambiase confirms 2028 move to McLaren

Red Bull race engineer GianPiero Lambiase, the architect behind Max Verstappen’s championship successes, will leave the team at the end of his contract in 2028 to join McLaren as their new Chief Racing Officer. The simultaneous announcements from both teams confirm one of the most significant personnel moves in recent F1 history, shifting a key pillar of Red Bull’s dominance to a rival on a clear upward trajectory.

Why it matters:

This move represents more than just a job change; it’s a major symbolic and strategic victory for McLaren in its quest to return to championship contention. Securing the engineer who helped mastermind Verstappen’s era of dominance is a powerful statement about McLaren's ambition and its growing appeal as a destination for top-tier F1 talent, following earlier high-profile signings from Red Bull.

The details:

• The Timeline: Red Bull confirmed Lambiase will see out his current contract, remaining as Head of Racing and Verstappen’s race engineer until the end of 2028. McLaren, however, stated it expects him "no later than 2028," hinting at potential negotiations over his exact start date and gardening leave period.
• The Role at McLaren: Lambiase will take on the newly specified role of Chief Racing Officer, a position currently overseen by Team Principal Andrea Stella. The role is focused on the operational leadership of the race team, allowing Stella to focus on broader strategic objectives.
• Red Bull's Stance: Despite the looming departure, Red Bull was emphatic that Lambiase’s immediate focus remains on the team, stating both parties are "fully committed to add more success to our strong track record together" for the remainder of his contract.
• McLaren's Strategic Vision: McLaren framed the hire as part of a long-term plan "to strengthen and support the talent pool" and reaffirm its commitment to becoming a championship-winning team, crediting the culture under Zak Brown and Andrea Stella for attracting such talent.

What's next:

The immediate battle will be fought not on track, but in the boardroom over Lambiase's gardening leave. Given Red Bull's history of enforcing lengthy notice periods for departing senior staff, they are likely to use the full term of his contract to delay his impact at McLaren. While Red Bull aims to maximize its final years with a key player, McLaren's acquisition signals a long-game strategy, betting that Lambiase’s expertise will be a crucial piece in assembling a title-challenging operation for the future.