Will Verstappen Follow Lambiase to McLaren?

Red Bull’s longtime chief race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase will leave the Austrian outfit for McLaren, with his move slated to be completed by the end of 2028. The Italian, who has been Max Verstappen’s race engineer since 2022, is expected to take on the newly created role of Chief Racing Officer under team principal Andrea Stella.

Why it matters:

• Verstappen’s race‑day strategy has been heavily shaped by Lambiase’s data‑driven calls, so his exit could disrupt the driver‑team chemistry that helped secure recent titles.
• McLaren gains a seasoned strategist, potentially narrowing the performance gap with Red Bull and Mercedes as they hunt a return to podiums.

The details:

• Lambiase will become Chief Racing Officer, reporting to Andrea Stella.
• His Red Bull contract runs until 2028, aligning with new power‑unit regs.
• Verstappen called him “like a brother,” highlighting a bond that could be lost.

What's next:

Red Bull must fill the race‑engineer vacancy, likely promoting from within, while McLaren hopes Lambiase will fast‑track their development toward a podium push in 2025. The driver‑engineer split adds uncertainty for Verstappen, but his strong ties with the broader technical crew should soften any short‑term impact.