[Saba Sports News] Another personnel change has emerged in the F1 paddock as Gianpiero Lambiase is set to leave Red Bull. McLaren has confirmed that the long-time race engineer to Max Verstappen will join the team at the end of his contract as Chief Racing Officer, reporting directly to Team Principal Andrea Stella. Under his current deal, Lambiase will complete his handover no later than the 2028 season. Until then, he will continue his duties at Red Bull, including serving as Verstappen’s race engineer.
Lambiase has partnered with Verstappen since 2016 and has been a key figure during his multiple world championship runs. At the end of 2024, he was promoted to Head of Race Engineering at Red Bull, becoming a critical link between technical development and trackside execution. McLaren management stated that this position already exists within the team structure, primarily overseeing track operations and race execution, a role previously held by Stella on an interim basis. With Lambiase’s arrival, the team aims to further strengthen synergy between technical and operational execution while solidifying its title-contending capabilities.
In our view, Lambiase’s departure — as one of Verstappen’s most trusted team members — will inevitably spark speculation over the driver’s future. Although Verstappen has recently expressed satisfaction with his current situation, he has not ruled out the possibility of adjusting his path in the future amid a new regulatory cycle. With the confirmed exit of his core engineer, this uncertainty could be further amplified.