Max Verstappen has confirmed Tom Hart will succeed Gianpiero Lambiase as his race engineer at Red Bull Racing. This announcement follows the news that Lambiase is set to depart the team in 2028 to join McLaren. Lambiase, known as ‘GP’, has been Verstappen’s race engineer since May 2016.
Lambiase will transition to McLaren as Chief Racing Officer, a significant leadership role within the Woking-based squad. McLaren officially confirmed this appointment on April 9, 2026, with Red Bull also acknowledging his impending departure.
Tom Hart has served as Verstappen’s performance engineer for several years, working closely with the four-time world champion. Reports indicated Hart was considering a move to Williams before ultimately deciding to remain with Red Bull.
Verstappen stated that discussions regarding Hart’s new role began around the Miami Grand Prix earlier this season. He noted Hart’s enthusiasm for taking on a different position within the team.
When discussing the qualities required for a race engineer, Verstappen emphasised the importance of understanding racing beyond technical data. He highlighted the need for insight to interpret situations effectively, a trait he values highly.
Regarding Lambiase’s move, Verstappen expressed his support, stating it would be ‘stupid’ to impede such a career opportunity. He acknowledged that career paths evolve and wished Lambiase well.
Lambiase will continue in his current roles as Head of Racing and race engineer to Verstappen until his contract expires in 2028. A gradual transition for Hart into the race engineer position is anticipated over the coming seasons.
Amidst these personnel changes, former Formula 1 driver Riccardo Patrese has commented on Max Verstappen’s strong position in the driver market. Patrese suggested that Verstappen’s discussions with other teams, including McLaren, could serve as a negotiation tactic with Red Bull Racing.
