Fans back Lambiase's shock McLaren move

In a decisive fan poll, 72% of Formula 1 supporters believe Gianpiero Lambiase's planned move from Red Bull to McLaren in 2028 is an excellent career step, despite his pivotal role in Max Verstappen's championship success. The veteran race engineer will leave his combined role as Verstappen's engineer and head of racing to become McLaren's chief racing officer, overseeing all trackside operations.

Why it matters:

Lambiase's departure marks another significant loss of institutional knowledge from Red Bull Racing, following the exits of key figures like Adrian Newey. For McLaren, securing a top-tier talent with direct experience from the sport's dominant team is a major coup as they continue their push to become consistent title contenders, signaling their ambition to build a world-championship-winning operation.

The details:

• Lambiase has been Max Verstappen's race engineer since 2016, a partnership that has yielded four Drivers' Championships.
• His new role at McLaren is a clear promotion, moving from an engineering/operational position to a senior executive role as Chief Racing Officer.
• He will be responsible for the team's trackside operations, relieving Team Principal Andrea Stella of those duties.
• Fan Sentiment: A RacingNews365 poll showed overwhelming support for his decision:
  • 72% called it an "excellent move" for his career.
  • Nearly 20% believed he should have stayed at Red Bull.
  • A small minority thought he should have looked at other teams.

What's next:

Lambiase remains under contract with Red Bull Racing until the end of the 2027 season, meaning he will continue working with Verstappen for three more campaigns. His impending move places a long-term question mark over who will fill the crucial role of Verstappen's race engineer post-2027, while giving McLaren a defined timeline to integrate a key piece of their future leadership structure.