Verstappen Praises 'Friend' Lambiase Amid Red Bull Engineer Promotion Rumors

Max Verstappen publicly honored race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, praising his resilience amid confirmed reports that Lambiase will receive a promotion within Red Bull Racing for 2026. The four-time champion acknowledged Lambiase's emotional state following Verstappen's narrow championship loss to Lando Norris, emphasizing their deep personal bond forged over eight seasons together.

Why it matters:

Verstappen's rare public tribute underscores the critical but often overlooked human element in F1's high-pressure environment. With Lambiase reportedly moving to a senior technical role while remaining trackside, this transition could reshape one of the sport's most successful driver-engineer partnerships just as Red Bull aims to reclaim dominance after a season-long title fight.

The details:

• Lambiase, known as "GP" within the team, visibly broke down after Verstappen's Abu Dhabi victory – a win that fell two points short of securing a fifth consecutive title.
• The Dutch driver specifically referenced Lambiase's "tough" personal circumstances this season, which caused the engineer to miss the Austrian and Belgian Grands Prix.
• Historic Partnership: Their collaboration began at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix – Verstappen's debut race for Red Bull and first career victory.
• Promotion Confirmed: Multiple sources confirm Lambiase's 2026 role change involves greater technical oversight while maintaining race weekend presence, contradicting initial "shake-up" speculation.
• Verstappen emphasized: "I see him as my friend. We've lived through so many emotional things together" – highlighting how their relationship transcends professional duties during championship battles.

What's next:

As Red Bull restructures technical leadership ahead of 2026 regulation changes, Verstappen's comments signal confidence in maintaining continuity despite organizational shifts.

• The team must balance Lambiase's expanded responsibilities with Verstappen's proven need for direct communication – the Dutchman has worked exclusively with Lambiase for 147 consecutive races since 2016.
• With Mercedes and Ferrari accelerating power unit development, retaining this psychologically crucial partnership could prove vital for Verstappen's 2026 title defense.
• Team principal Laurent Mekies faces the delicate task of leveraging Lambiase's expertise across broader technical areas without disrupting the championship-caliber synergy that powered Red Bull's post-summer resurgence.