[Saba Sports News] In response to rumors regarding the potential departure of Max Verstappen’s long-time partner and race engineer, Gianpiero Lambias, from Red Bull Racing, Verstappen recently provided a clear statement, indicating that from his personal perspective, Lambias has never considered leaving the team. At the end of last season, there were reports that Lambias had been in contact with Aston Martin and Williams, partly because he did not want to commit to a full 24-race season again. Additionally, the temporary replacement of Renie (Simon Rennie) as engineer during the Austrian and Belgian races was seen by many as a signal of potential changes. Coupled with the farewell conversation between Verstappen and Lambias over the radio after the season finale in Abu Dhabi, speculation intensified. At that time, despite Verstappen winning the race, he lost the championship to Lando Norris by just two points. Lambias comforted him over the radio, saying he could be proud of the entire season, to which Verstappen replied, “We proved once again who the best driver is.” The phrase “once again” was interpreted by many fans as an implication of separation.
However, the situation was soon clarified. Internal information from Red Bull Racing indicated that Lambias would continue as the head of the Red Bull Racing department for the 2026 season, remaining as Verstappen’s race engineer. Verstappen himself emphasized in interviews that Lambias would definitely stay and that there were no disagreements between them. In the editor’s view, Lambias is not only an engineer but also a friend who has stood by Verstappen through both highs and lows.