Red Bull says Lambiase’s McLaren move won’t disrupt Verstappen’s future

Red Bull technical chief Laurent Mekies told Sky Sports F1 that Gian Piero Lambiase’s move to McLaren for 2028 will not affect Max Verstappen’s long‑term future with the team. Mekies pointed to Verstappen’s daily work at the factory and simulator as proof of his deep integration. McLaren CEO Zak Brown added that if Verstappen leaves after 2026, Mercedes would be the natural destination.

Why it matters:

• Lambiase’s exit removes a key race‑engineering mind, raising questions about Red Bull’s technical continuity.
• Verstappen’s commitment underpins Red Bull’s championship plan; a move would trigger a major driver‑market reshuffle.

The details:

• Gian Piero Lambiase, Red Bull’s head of race engineering, will join McLaren from the 2028 season, a significant technical poach.
• Mekies stressed that Verstappen “is not outside of the project; he is inside with us,” pointing to his recent simulator and factory work.
• McLaren chief Zak Brown said if Verstappen departs after 2026, Mercedes would be the logical next step, though he’s happy with Norris and Piastri.

What's next:

• Red Bull will rely on its deep engineering bench to keep the championship fight alive through 2025‑2026 while Verstappen’s contract talks intensify.
• If Verstappen confirms a move to Mercedes after 2026, the driver market will see a major reshuffle, affecting team line‑ups for the next cycle.
• McLaren will integrate Lambiase to boost its performance ahead of the 2028 regulation changes.