Max Verstappen set to lose long-time engineer Lambiase amid Red Bull staff departures

Max Verstappen could be set to part ways with his long-time race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, at Red Bull Racing after 2027. Reports indicate that Lambiase, 45, will join McLaren from the following season, a move first revealed by De Limburger and De Telegraaf, and later corroborated by BBC and Reuters, citing their own sources.

Lambiase has been alongside Verstappen since his Red Bull debut in 2016, playing a crucial role in his run of four straight Formula 1 championships. His departure would mark another significant loss for the team.

Red Bull has already seen several senior figures leave, including Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay to McLaren, Jonathan Wheatley to Audi, and Adrian Newey to Aston Martin. The exits of team boss Christian Horner and advisor Helmut Marko further underline the scale of the changes.

Recent reports suggest that Lambiase’s move to McLaren isn’t just as a race engineer; he could take on a leadership role in race operations, potentially as Head of Race Engineering or in a senior advisory role under team principal Andrea Stella.

Verstappen, who has already raised doubts about his future after the last Grand Prix in Japan, once said that he would quit racing when Lambiase quits. Verstappen’s uncertainty about his future is driven not just by the team’s staff changes, but also by his outspoken criticism of the 2026 rules, which he has called “anti-racing” and likened to “Mario Kart.”

Verstappen sees Lambiase as more than just his engineer; he considers him a friend. Following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, he called it an “emotional year,” in part because of personal challenges Lambiase faced, including his wife’s fight against cancer.

Lambiase’s contract with Red Bull runs through the end of 2027, meaning his switch to McLaren would likely begin in the 2028 season, potentially with a gardening leave period, as is often the case when staff move between rival teams.

Both Red Bull and McLaren have yet to verify the reports about Lambiase leaving.