Verstappen's race engineer Lambiase set to leave Red Bull for McLaren
Gianpiero Lambiase, Max Verstappen's long-time race engineer and a key figure in his championship successes, is reportedly leaving Red Bull for McLaren in 2028 after accepting a major financial offer. The move would end one of F1's most iconic driver-engineer partnerships and represents another strategic hire by McLaren as they build a team capable of challenging for titles.
Gianpiero 'GP' Lambiase, the race engineer who has been Max Verstappen's constant voice on the radio throughout his championship-winning career, is reportedly set to leave Red Bull Racing at the end of the 2027 season to join McLaren. The move, driven by a substantial financial offer, would mark the end of one of Formula 1's most successful driver-engineer partnerships and signal another major coup for McLaren's aggressive recruitment strategy.
Why it matters:
The potential departure of Lambiase represents more than just a personnel change; it signifies the breaking of a core pillar within Verstappen's dominant Red Bull era. His trusted partnership with Verstappen has been fundamental to three drivers' championships, making this a symbolic shift. For McLaren, securing such a high-profile figure from the reigning champions continues their pattern of targeting top Red Bull talent to bolster their own championship ambitions, potentially reshaping the team's future leadership.
The details:
- Multiple reports, including from De Telegraaf and Autosport, state Lambiase has accepted an "astronomical offer" from McLaren to begin work in 2028, significantly exceeding his current Red Bull salary.
- McLaren reportedly fought off interest from Aston Martin and Williams to secure his signature.
- Lambiase has been Verstappen's race engineer since the Dutch driver's promotion to the senior Red Bull team in 2016, a partnership spanning four title-winning campaigns.
- The move is seen as part of a wider leadership succession plan at McLaren, with speculation that Lambiase could be groomed for a senior role, possibly even team principal, amid ongoing rumors about current boss Andrea Stella's future.
- It continues a trend of McLaren recruiting from Red Bull's top ranks, following earlier signings of engineering chiefs Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay.
What's next:
The reported 2028 start date means Lambiase would see out his current Red Bull contract, providing a long transition period. For Red Bull, this adds to a significant brain drain of senior figures, including Adrian Newey, Jonathan Wheatley, and Christian Horner, testing the team's resilience. For Verstappen, adapting to a new engineer after over a decade will be a notable challenge. If the move proceeds, all eyes will be on whether Lambiase can help translate McLaren's recent progress into a sustained title challenge and what his ultimate leadership role within the Woking-based team will become.