[Saba Sports News] Red Bull Racing has secured a replacement following Gianpiero Lambiase’s departure. It is reported that the team’s Performance Engineer Tom Hart will take over as Max Verstappen’s new Race Engineer starting from the 2027 season, stepping into one of the most vital roles alongside the Dutch driver.
This decision came after Hart’s planned move to Williams was scrapped. Under the original arrangement, he was set to become Alexander Albon’s new Race Engineer at Williams. However, following discussions between Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies and Williams Team Principal James Vowles, an agreement was reached to keep Hart within the Red Bull organisation. Gianpiero Lambiase has served as Verstappen’s Race Engineer since 2016. The pair experienced Red Bull’s most triumphant era in recent years and guided Verstappen to four F1 World Drivers’ Championship titles. In April this year, McLaren announced the signing of Lambiase, who will take up the role of Chief Racing Officer at McLaren and join the team no later than 2028.
Reports indicate Hart has already begun preparing for the succession. He is working as Race Engineer for Red Bull reserve driver Yuki Tsunoda during test sessions to gain practical radio communication experience. Furthermore, he briefly filled in for Lambiase during practice sessions at the 2024 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, meaning he is no stranger to the position.
Red Bull’s confirmation that Tom Hart will succeed Gianpiero Lambiase as Max Verstappen’s Race Engineer marks a crucial personnel strategy featuring internal promotion and successful retention. The move aims to deliver a seamless handover and preserve vital operational synergy.