Red Bull targets McCullough as Lambiase successor

Red Bull is reportedly targeting outgoing Aston Martin performance director Tom McCullough to fill the void left by Gianpiero Lambiase's impending move to McLaren. The potential hire represents another high-profile external recruitment for the Milton Keynes squad as it seeks to stabilize its race engineering leadership ahead of Lambiase's confirmed departure by 2028.

Why it matters:

Lambiase has been Max Verstappen's long-time race engineer and one of the most influential figures in the garage. His exit creates a significant hole in race operations and driver relations at a time when Red Bull is fighting to maintain its competitive edge. The choice of successor carries extra weight given persistent speculation about Verstappen's own future and his rumored links to McLaren, the very team poaching Lambiase.

The details:

• German publication BILD reports McCullough, who is leaving Aston Martin after 13 years spanning the Force India, Racing Point and Aston Martin eras, is the leading candidate for a senior race engineering role.
• While internal option Tom Hart had been widely expected to step up, the latest reports suggest Red Bull is looking outside the organization for Lambiase's replacement.
• McCullough brings extensive experience in trackside performance, race operations and team management across multiple regulation eras.
• The move follows Red Bull's recent recruitment of Gwen Lagrue, formerly Mercedes' Driver Development Adviser, signaling a broader refresh of key operational positions following several high-profile departures.

What's next:

Nothing is officially confirmed, but the timing suggests Red Bull wants its post-Lambiase structure in place well before 2028. If McCullough joins, it will mark a second major external hire in weeks and could accelerate the team's efforts to halt its recent competitive slide. The move may also help reassure Verstappen that Red Bull remains committed to surrounding him with experienced leadership, even as McLaren continues to strengthen its own ranks.