Former Formula 1 driver Daniel Ricciardo has offered insight into his communication with Max Verstappen, drawing a comparison with Lando Norris’s messaging habits. Ricciardo indicated that he maintains regular contact with Verstappen.
Ricciardo confirmed his frequent communication with Verstappen, stating, ‘I have the most contact with Max on the phone at the moment.’ He also noted Verstappen’s general accessibility to other drivers.
In contrast, Ricciardo described Lando Norris’s communication style as challenging. ‘Lando, on the other hand, is terrible at exchanging messages,’ Ricciardo commented. He added that Norris ‘just finds it boring after a few messages, then he stops responding.’
The remarks come as Red Bull Racing prepares for a significant change in Max Verstappen’s engineering team. Gianpiero Lambiase, Verstappen’s long-serving race engineer since 2016, is set to depart.
Lambiase will join McLaren as Chief Racing Officer, with his move confirmed to take place no later than the 2028 season. This transition marks the end of a highly successful partnership with Verstappen.
Red Bull has appointed Tom Hart as Lambiase’s successor for Verstappen’s race engineer role, effective for the 2027 season. Hart previously served as Verstappen’s performance engineer for several years.
Hart was reportedly close to joining Williams as Alex Albon’s race engineer before Red Bull intervened to retain him. This move ensures continuity within Verstappen’s immediate engineering support.
Meanwhile, Max Verstappen’s future at Red Bull beyond 2026 remains a subject of speculation. His current contract runs until the end of 2028, but an exit clause became active after the summer break.
The clause allows Verstappen to leave if he is outside the top two in the Drivers’ Championship standings at the summer break, a condition met this season. Formula 1 commercial boss Stefano Domenicali has confirmed discussions regarding Verstappen’s future.
Verstappen has expressed dissatisfaction with the 2026 regulations and the performance of Red Bull’s car this season, describing some situations as ‘dangerous.’
Lando Norris, in his professional capacity, maintains a strong and trusting relationship with his McLaren race engineer, Will Joseph. Joseph has noted Norris’s increasing demands on the team as he has matured as a driver.
