McLaren Denies Rumors Lambiase Will Replace Stella as Team Principal

McLaren CEO Zak Brown has firmly shut down speculation that incoming Red Bull veteran Gianpiero 'GP' Lambiase is being groomed to replace current Team Principal Andrea Stella. Brown reiterated that Lambiase, who will join the team as Chief Racing Officer no later than 2028, is being brought in to strengthen the senior leadership structure and support Stella, whom Brown calls "the best one in pit lane."

Why it matters:

The clarification underscores the evolving complexity of top team roles in modern F1 and McLaren's strategy of building a deep bench of executive talent rather than planning an immediate succession. It also highlights the ongoing high-profile personnel movement from Red Bull, with rivals like McLaren capitalizing on internal turbulence to secure experienced figures.

The details:

• The rumors were reignited in Miami when Red Bull Team Principal Laurent Mekies suggested Lambiase was effectively stepping into a team principal role at McLaren, stating, "He’s going to be a team principal there."
• Brown directly countered this, telling Sky Sports F1, "He knows something I don’t, apparently!" and emphatically backed Stella's position.
• Brown explained that Stella's role has expanded to effectively cover three major jobs: Team Principal, head of racing operations, and a significant technical director capacity.
• Lambiase's appointment is framed as a move to alleviate that burden and add strength to the pit wall, not to replace Stella. Brown stated his job is to "get the best talent" and "think long-term."
• On Red Bull's side, Mekies acknowledged the team has "lost quite a few key people in the last four or five years" but expressed confidence in their environment to retain and develop talent, admitting a completely linear path with no departures is unrealistic.

What's next:

Lambiase will join McLaren's senior leadership in 2028, integrating into a structure designed to handle the growing demands of the sport. For now, the team's hierarchy is clear, with Stella firmly at the helm. Brown left the door open for long-term growth within the organization, noting Lambiase's experience and age make him someone who "can be here for a long time at McLaren and grow," but any future leadership change remains a distant possibility, not a pre-ordained plan.