McLaren poaches Verstappen's race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase from Red Bull

McLaren has confirmed the high-profile signing of Gianpiero Lambiase, the race engineer for reigning four-time champion Max Verstappen, from Red Bull. Lambiase will join the Woking-based team as its Chief Racing Officer, taking over a role currently managed by Team Principal Andrea Stella, in a move that signals McLaren's aggressive intent to challenge at the very front of the Formula 1 grid.

Why it matters:

This represents a major coup for McLaren and a significant loss for Red Bull, directly targeting the core engineering team behind the sport's dominant driver. Lambiase is not just any engineer; he has been the strategic voice in Verstappen's ear for every one of his 57 Grand Prix victories and four world titles. For McLaren, securing such proven, championship-winning talent is a clear statement of ambition as they build a team capable of sustaining a title challenge, following their recent on-track resurgence.

The details:

• Lambiase will join McLaren as Chief Racing Officer, reporting directly to Team Principal Andrea Stella. The role entails overall leadership of the race team, duties Stella has been handling alongside his principal responsibilities.
• He has been Max Verstappen's race engineer since the Dutchman's promotion to the senior Red Bull team in May 2016, forming one of the most successful driver-engineer partnerships in the sport's history.
• Strategic Poaching: Lambiase is the latest in a series of key technical personnel McLaren has recruited from Red Bull, following the earlier arrivals of former Chief Engineering Officer Rob Marshall and Aerodynamics Chief Will Courtenay.
• Contract Timeline: The announcement revealed a nuanced detail in the timing. While Red Bull's statement said Lambiase would leave "in 2028, when his current contract expires," McLaren's release says it looks forward to welcoming him "when his existing contract ends, no later than 2028."
  • The phrase "no later than 2028" suggests McLaren may attempt to negotiate an earlier release, potentially shortening the standard period of 'gardening leave' where an employee must wait before joining a rival.

What's next:

The focus now shifts to the execution of this long-term plan and the immediate impact on both teams.

• For Red Bull, the task is to manage a smooth transition, finding a new race engineer for Verstappen—a crucial relationship that requires immense trust and synergy. The team has over three years to prepare for Lambiase's departure.
• For McLaren, the acquisition is a pivotal part of a broader technical restructuring under Stella's leadership. Integrating Lambiase's race-winning experience and strategic acumen will be key to converting their current speed into consistent race-winning and championship-contending operations. His arrival, alongside other key hires, builds the foundation for their 2026 regulations challenge.