Max Verstappen’s long-time race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, will leave Red Bull Racing to join rival team McLaren. The move is scheduled for the start of the 2028 season, following the conclusion of Lambiase’s current contract with Red Bull.
Red Bull confirmed the departure in an official statement. The team clarified that Lambiase will continue in his dual roles as Head of Racing and as race engineer for Verstappen until his contract expires at the end of 2027.
McLaren announced that Lambiase will join as Chief Racing Officer, reporting to team principal Andrea Stella. The Woking-based team noted the hiring is part of a wider strategy to attract top talent, having previously recruited Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay from Red Bull.
Verstappen revealed he was consulted by Lambiase before the decision was made and encouraged him to accept the new role. He stated that Lambiase had received a fantastic offer and that he would have been ‘stupid’ not to take it.
‘He asked me for my approval, so to speak, and I told him he absolutely had to go for it. He really wanted to hear that from me.’
The driver acknowledged the strength of their partnership, which began when Verstappen joined Red Bull in 2016. Together, they have secured four world championships and numerous race victories, forming one of the most successful pairings in the sport.
The announcement, made in April, followed earlier speculation at the end of 2025 linking Lambiase with senior positions at both Aston Martin and Williams. However, the move to McLaren is now confirmed by all parties involved.
Lambiase’s impending departure has fueled discussion about Verstappen’s own long-term future with Red Bull. The driver has previously suggested his continuation with the team was linked to key personnel remaining.
However, Verstappen’s father, Jos, has since indicated that he expects his son will likely remain with the team even after Lambiase’s exit. The developments occur amid a challenging start to the 2026 season for Red Bull under the new regulations.
