Max Verstappen’s Right-Hand Man Gianpiero Lambiase Set to Leave Red Bull for McLaren
The foundations of the Red Bull Racing empire are shaking. In a move that sends shockwaves through the Formula 1 paddock, reports indicate that Gianpiero Lambiase leaving Red Bull is now a reality, with the veteran engineer set to join McLaren at the end of 2027.
For Max Verstappen, the news is more than just a corporate reshuffle. Lambiase, known to the F1 world as “GP,” has been the voice in Verstappen’s ear since the Dutchman’s promotion from Toro Rosso in May 2016. Together, they forged one of the most successful driver-engineer partnerships in the history of the sport, securing four consecutive World Drivers’ Championship titles between 2021, and 2024.
The departure marks a devastating blow to Red Bull’s stability, coming on the heels of a tumultuous 2025 season that saw the team lose its grip on the pinnacle of the sport.
Das wird Max Verstappen nicht gefallen. Berichten zufolge steht sein langjähriger Renningenieur vor dem Abschied bei Red Bull. Das dürfte Fragen nach der Zukunft von Verstappen befeuern.
Max Verstappens Formel-1-Team Red Bull verliert nach übereinstimmenden Medienberichten weiteres Spitzenpersonal. Demnach wird der langjährige Renningenieur des viermaligen Weltmeisters, Gianpiero Lambiase, zu McLaren wechseln. Er soll angeblich Ende 2027 zum Konkurrenten wechseln, um dann eine Führungsposition einzunehmen.
Und was wird aus Verstappen?
Ein Abgang des 45-Jährigen dürfte auch die Frage nach der weiteren Zukunft von Verstappen selbst befeuern. Der 28-Jährige hat zwar bei Red Bull noch einen Vertrag bis Ende 2028, mit dem aktuellen Technikreglement in der Motorsport-Königsklasse ist er aber unglücklich. Red Bull hat längst die einstige Spitzenposition in der Formel 1 eingebüßt.
Der aktuelle Teamchef bei McLaren, Andrea Stella, könnte durch den Zugang von Lambiase mehr Freiheiten in seiner Rolle bekommen. Zudem wird er auch mit Ferrari in Verbindung gebracht, wo allerdings noch Frédéric Vasseur für die Rennleitung zuständig ist. Red Bull und McLaren äußerten sich zu der Personalie Lambiase bislang offiziell nicht.
Horner, Newey, Wheatley etc.
Lambiase und Verstappen arbeiten bei Red Bull seit 2016 zusammen, als der Niederländer vom damaligen Schwesterteam Toro Rosso befördert wurde. Zusammen gewannen sie vier Fahrertitel. Der britisch-italienische Ingenieur war zuletzt auch mit Aston Martin in Verbindung gebracht worden.
Für Red Bull wäre der Abschied von Lambiase ein weiterer namhafter Abgang. Auf der Liste beim einstigen Weltmeisterteam stehen schon Christian Horner (früher Teamchef), Designer Adrian Newey (nun Aston Martin), Helmut Marko (früher Motorsportberater), Jonathan Wheatley (ehemaliger Sportdirektor) oder auch Rob Marshall und Will Courtenay, die zu McLaren gegangen sind.
A Partnership Defined by Precision and Friendship
To understand why this move is so critical, one must look at the unique dynamic between the 28-year-old Verstappen and the 45-year-old Lambiase. In a sport where the relationship between a driver and their race engineer can be volatile, the pair became famous for their direct, often blunt, but deeply respectful radio exchanges.
Lambiase, a British-Italian engineer born in Bedford, England, has been the steady hand guiding Verstappen through the chaos of Grand Prix weekends. Beyond the technical setup of the car and trackside communications, the bond evolved into a genuine friendship.
Following the conclusion of the 2025 season, Verstappen spoke candidly about the emotional toll of the year. “Of course, he is my race engineer, but I see him as my friend,” Verstappen stated, reflecting on the highs and lows they weathered together. “We have lived through so many emotional things together and fantastic achievements.”
The 2025 Turning Point: An Emotional Season
The timing of Lambiase’s departure is particularly poignant given the dramatic shift in the competitive order. For years, Red Bull appeared invincible, but the 2025 campaign told a different story. The season culminated in a heartbreaking finale in Abu Dhabi, where McLaren’s Lando Norris clinched his first World Championship, beating Verstappen by a razor-thin margin of just two points.
Despite Verstappen securing eight wins throughout the campaign, the title slipped away. In the immediate aftermath of the race, Lambiase’s emotional support for his driver was evident. “Max, you have given everything – you can be proud of that, mate. Hold your head up high,” Lambiase told him over the radio.
Verstappen, ever the competitor, responded by praising the team’s resilience, noting a strong comeback in the second half of the season. However, the “emotional year” he described suggests a deeper struggle within the team’s internal dynamics and technical direction.
Red Bull’s Great Exodus
The loss of Lambiase is not an isolated incident; It’s the latest chapter in what can only be described as a mass exodus of senior talent from the Milton Keynes-based squad. Red Bull has seen its leadership structure dismantled over the last 18 months.
The list of high-profile departures is staggering:
- Adrian Newey: The legendary designer departed for Aston Martin.
- Jonathan Wheatley: The former sporting director moved to Audi.
- Helmut Marko: The long-time motorsport advisor left the team at the end of last year.
- Christian Horner: The former team principal was sacked in July and replaced by Laurent Mekies.
- Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay: Both senior personnel have already transitioned to McLaren.
For a team that built its dominance on technical superiority and a tight-knit group of loyalists, this brain drain represents a systemic collapse. The loss of Lambiase—who also serves as Red Bull’s Head of Racing since 2024—strips Verstappen of his most trusted confidant and the team of its racing operational lead.
McLaren’s Strategic Poaching
Although Red Bull bleeds talent, McLaren is aggressively building a powerhouse. The Woking-based team has clearly identified Red Bull’s internal instability as an opportunity. By securing Lambiase on a reported multi-million-pound deal, McLaren is not just gaining an engineer; they are acquiring the blueprint of how to manage a world-champion driver.
Reports suggest that Lambiase will join McLaren in 2028, following his departure at the end of 2027. He is expected to capture on a leadership role, likely working in support of current team boss Andrea Stella. Interestingly, the move may provide Stella with more operational freedom, especially amid ongoing rumors linking the McLaren boss to a potential return to Ferrari.
This strategy of “poaching” senior Red Bull staff—including the previously mentioned Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay—signals McLaren’s intent to move from being a challenger to becoming the dominant force in Formula 1.
What This Means for Max Verstappen
The most pressing question now is the future of Max Verstappen. While the Dutchman is under contract with Red Bull until the end of 2028, his happiness at the team is increasingly in doubt. Verstappen has expressed dissatisfaction with the current technical regulations, and the loss of the people who helped him win four titles may be the final straw.
In F1, the bond between a driver and their engineer is often the “glue” that keeps a talent at a team during lean years. With Lambiase exiting, that glue is dissolving. If Red Bull cannot stabilize its leadership and regain its technical edge, Verstappen may find the remaining years of his contract increasingly tricky to stomach.
For now, the two will continue their partnership through 2027, but the countdown to the end of an era has officially begun.
Key Takeaways: The Lambiase-McLaren Move
- The Timeline: Gianpiero Lambiase will leave Red Bull at the end of 2027 to join McLaren in 2028.
- The Partnership: Lambiase has been Verstappen’s race engineer since 2016, contributing to four WDC titles.
- The Red Bull Crisis: This follows the exits of Adrian Newey, Jonathan Wheatley, Helmut Marko, and Christian Horner.
- The McLaren Gain: Lambiase joins other former Red Bull staff like Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay in Woking.
- The Stakes: Verstappen remains under contract until 2028, but the loss of his “right-hand man” adds uncertainty to his future.
As the paddock prepares for the next chapter, all eyes remain on the relationship between Verstappen and the Red Bull leadership. Whether this departure triggers a wider collapse or a surprising rebuilding phase remains to be seen.
Stay tuned for official statements from Red Bull and McLaren regarding the transition. Do you believe Verstappen will stay at Red Bull until 2028 without GP? Let us recognize in the comments.
