Jos Verstappen reacts to Lambiase's Red Bull exit

Jos Verstappen has revealed that he and his son Max were aware of Gianpiero 'GP' Lambiase's planned departure from Red Bull for some time, describing the move as a "huge opportunity" they encouraged him to take. The news of Lambiase, Max Verstappen's highly successful race engineer, leaving for McLaren in 2028 has fueled speculation about the reigning champion's own future with the team, though Jos suggests his son is likely to stay put.

Why it matters:

The relationship between a driver and their race engineer is one of the most critical and trusted partnerships in Formula 1. Lambiase has been the voice in Verstappen's ear for all three of his world titles, making his departure a significant operational shift. This move also directly tests a previous declaration from Verstappen that he would only stay at Red Bull as long as Lambiase was there, putting a spotlight on the champion's loyalty and long-term plans.

The details:

• Jos Verstappen stated the news was not a surprise, telling Dutch outlet RaceXpress, "We knew for a while and we also knew when it was going to happen."
• He expressed full support for Lambiase's career move to become McLaren's Chief Racing Officer: "It's a huge opportunity for him, so we understand. We also told him to do it and grab it with both hands."
• The timeline gives Red Bull a clear window to find a replacement, with Jos noting, "We have another year and a half to two years to work with him."
• When asked about Max's previous comments linking his future to Lambiase's, Jos indicated the situation has evolved: "I think things have changed. Certainly after four championships you have achieved a lot together, but that is up to Max. However, I think he will just continue."

What's next:

The focus now shifts to Red Bull's succession planning for one of the most high-pressure engineering roles on the grid. Finding a new race engineer who can build a similarly effective rapport with the team's star driver will be a top priority. While Jos Verstappen's comments aim to downplay immediate drama, Max's own stance will be scrutinized until he publicly addresses his future beyond Lambiase's tenure.