Max Verstappen loses chief engineer Gianpiero Lambiase to McLaren
Summary
Red Bull’s veteran race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, who helped Max Verstappen clinch four championships, will leave at the end of 2027 for a multi‑million‑pound role at McLaren, highlighting the British team’s ongoing poaching of Red Bull talent.
Max Verstappen’s long‑time race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase will depart Red Bull at the end of 2027 to join McLaren on a multi‑million‑pound deal. The 45‑year‑old has been Verstappen’s chief engineer since 2016, helping the Dutch driver secure four world titles, and his exit marks another high‑profile loss for the Austrian team.
Why it matters:
- Lambiase is the technical link between Verstappen and the RB‑19 power unit, a key factor in Red Bull’s recent dominance.
- His departure could unsettle Red Bull’s development rhythm ahead of the 2028 season.
- McLaren gains insider insight into Red Bull’s engineering approach, potentially accelerating its own performance gains.
The details:
- Contract – McLaren offered a multi‑million‑pound package, underscoring its aggressive talent‑acquisition strategy.
- Red Bull talent drain – Lambiase follows chief designer Rob Marshall, strategist Will Courtenay and others who have already moved to McLaren or Aston Martin.
- Leadership ripple – Team principal Andrea Stella’s future is under speculation, with rumours of a possible Ferrari return.
What’s next:
- Red Bull will likely promote from within, giving younger engineers a faster track to senior roles.
- McLaren expects Lambiase to shape car development and race strategy, aiming to close the gap to the front‑runners.
- Both camps have declined to comment, leaving the F1 community to watch how the shuffle reshapes the grid in 2028.
Original Article :https://racingnews365.com/breaking-max-verstappen-loses-right-hand-man-gianpiero...