Verstappen backs Lambiase's move to McLaren, calls it a no‑brainer
Summary
Max Verstappen says he’d be a fool to block race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase’s move to McLaren, calls it a no‑brainer, and critiques the modest 2026 rule tweaks ahead of the Miami GP.
Max Verstappen has publicly backed Gianpiero Lambiase’s move to McLaren as a senior engineer, saying it would be “idiotic” to try to keep him. The pair have been together since 2016, delivering four titles and over 70 wins. Verstappen also dismissed the latest 2026 rule tweaks as a “tickle.”
Why it matters:
- Lambiase is key to Red Bull’s engineering stability; his exit could disrupt the data flow for Verstappen.
- Their driver‑engineer rapport is rare, making a replacement a major challenge.
- McLaren’s hire shows a push to boost its technical staff for the hybrid era.
The details:
- Partnership: 7 seasons (2016‑2027), 4 titles, 70+ wins.
- Departure timing: Lambiase leaves end‑2027; Red Bull is already scouting replacements.
- Verstappen’s stance: “It would be stupid to hold him back when the opportunity comes,” said in Miami.
- Regulation view: Verstappen called the 2026 qualifying tweaks a “tickle,” urging bigger changes.
What's next:
- Red Bull will promote internally or hire anew to keep the driver‑engineer link intact.
- McLaren adds a seasoned engineer as it readies for 2026 power‑unit rules.
- Verstappen hopes driver‑FIA talks will lead to bigger rule reforms for 2027.
Original Article :https://speedcafe.com/f1-news-2026-miami-gp-max-verstappen-gianpiero-lambiase-re...