Verstappens aware of Lambiase's planned move to McLaren
Jos Verstappen has revealed his family was aware of Gianpiero Lambiase's planned 2028 move to McLaren before it became public, and they supported the decision. He downplays the impact on his son Max's future, suggesting the reigning champion will likely stay at Red Bull as the team works to replace a key figure in its recent success.
While the news that Max Verstappen's race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase will leave Red Bull for McLaren in 2028 shocked the F1 world, the Verstappen family was already aware and supportive of the move. Jos Verstappen revealed they had known about the plan for some time and encouraged Lambiase to seize the significant opportunity, emphasizing a pragmatic approach to the impending change.
Why it matters:
The Verstappen-Lambiase partnership is one of the most successful in modern F1 history, a cornerstone of Red Bull's recent dominance. Lambiase's planned departure raises immediate questions about team stability and Max Verstappen's own long-term future, given his past comments linking his tenure to his trusted engineer. How Red Bull manages this transition will be critical to maintaining their competitive edge.
The details:
- Jos Verstappen confirmed to RaceXpress that the family had prior knowledge of Lambiase's decision, stating, "We knew for a while and we also knew when it was going to happen."
- The Verstappens not only understood the move but actively supported it. Jos added, "It's a huge opportunity for him, so we understand. We also told him to do it and grab it with both hands."
- This leaves a clear timeline for Red Bull to find a replacement, with roughly 1.5 to 2 years of continued work with Lambiase remaining.
- Addressing speculation about his son's future, Jos struck a measured tone, suggesting Max is likely to continue at Red Bull despite the change: "I think things have changed... but that is up to Max. However, I think he will just continue."
What's next:
The focus now shifts to the interim period and the long-term implications for both Red Bull and McLaren.
- Red Bull must use the next two seasons to identify and integrate a new race engineer for Verstappen, a process that will be closely watched for any impact on performance.
- For McLaren, securing a top-tier talent like Lambiase is a major coup, signaling their ambition to build a championship-contending structure for 2028 and beyond.
- While Jos Verstappen downplays immediate drama, Max's future at Red Bull will remain a topic of intense speculation until a new, equally effective working relationship is firmly established.