Jos Verstappen Reveals Role in Lambiase's McLaren Move, Downplays Impact on Max's Future

Jos Verstappen has disclosed that Max Verstappen's inner circle was aware of and supportive of Gianpiero Lambiase's move to McLaren, encouraging the long-serving Red Bull race engineer to seize the "huge opportunity." Despite Max's past comments suggesting he might retire if separated from Lambiase, his father now believes the reigning champion will "just carry on," leaving the final decision in Max's hands as his engineer's departure looms in 2028.

Why it matters:

The potential departure of a driver's race engineer, especially one as integral as Lambiase has been to Verstappen's four-title dynasty, is a seismic event in F1. It tests the driver's adaptability and the team's ability to maintain performance, while also fueling intense speculation about Verstappen's long-term commitment to Red Bull amidst existing tensions over the 2026 regulations.

The Details:

• A Planned Departure: Jos Verstappen confirmed the camp knew about Lambiase's McLaren move "for a while," with the switch officially announced for "no later" than 2028 when his Red Bull contract ends.
• Encouragement from the Camp: Contrary to creating friction, the Verstappens reportedly told Lambiase to "go for it and grab it with both hands," framing the move as a major career step.
• Historical Ultimatum vs. Current Reality: Max Verstappen once stated he would "stop" if he ever stopped working with Lambiase. Jos now says "things have changed" after four championships, softening that stance.
• McLaren's Role Clarified: Lambiase will join as Chief Racing Officer, reporting directly to Team Principal Andrea Stella. This counters reports he was a direct successor to Stella, whose move to Ferrari is not currently anticipated.
• Competitive Tug-of-War: PlanetF1.com understands Lambiase was also approached by Aston Martin before choosing McLaren, highlighting his high value in the paddock.

What's Next:

The focus now shifts to how Red Bull manages this transition and whether it affects their star driver's mindset.

• Verstappen's Decision: While Jos believes his son will continue, he emphasized "the final decision is up to Max." This leaves room for the engineer's exit to become a factor in Verstappen's ongoing evaluation of his F1 future.
• Red Bull's Challenge: The team must identify a suitable replacement who can build a similarly effective partnership with Verstappen, a process that will be closely watched.
• McLaren's Gain: For McLaren, securing a key figure from the sport's dominant team is a significant coup, adding experienced talent to their already strong technical leadership under Andrea Stella.