Verstappen Praises 'Friend' Lambiase, Confirming Red Bull Stay

Max Verstappen hailed his race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, as "my friend" following the 2025 season finale, putting an emphatic end to speculation about Lambiase's future. The comments came after it was confirmed Lambiase would remain at Red Bull for 2026, rejecting a reported approach from Aston Martin. The pair, who have worked together since 2016 and won four consecutive titles, narrowly missed out on a fifth this year, making Lambiase's emotional reaction on the pit wall a significant moment.

Why it matters:

The driver-race engineer bond is one of the most critical and intimate relationships in Formula 1, built on absolute trust and communication. Verstappen and Lambiase's partnership has been the bedrock of Red Bull's dominant era, and keeping this core duo together provides a crucial pillar of stability. As Red Bull navigates the massive technical upheaval of the 2026 regulations with its new in-house power unit, maintaining this proven championship-winning combination is a massive competitive advantage.

The details:

• A Decade of Dominance: Lambiase has been Verstappen's engineer since his sensational Red Bull debut at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, where they won their first race together. They went on to secure four world championships from 2021-2024.
• Verstappen's Praise: In the post-race press conference in Abu Dhabi, Verstappen said, "Of course, he is my race engineer, but I see him as my friend. We have lived through so many emotional things together and fantastic achievements... I'm just very proud to be able to work with someone that good."
• Emotional Context: The comments were amplified by Lambiase being seen visibly emotional on the pit wall after the final race, fueling rumors that he was set to depart.
• Future Secured: It was later confirmed that Lambiase will retain his dual role as head of racing and Verstappen's race engineer for the 2026 season, shutting down the Aston Martin speculation.

What's next:

With Lambiase's future secured, all focus at Milton Keynes shifts to the monumental challenge of the 2026 season. Red Bull is not only adapting to sweeping new regulations but also launching its own power unit in partnership with Ford. The team will unveil its 2026 livery and car, the RB22, at a launch event in Detroit next week, with the car expected to feature a double-pushrod suspension as they aim to start a new era of success.