Verstappen Retains Lambiase as Race Engineer for 2026

Max Verstappen will retain Gianpiero Lambiase as his race engineer for the 2026 F1 season, confirming the pair's championship-winning partnership remains intact despite recent speculation. Reports claiming Lambiase would transition to a Milton Keynes-based role due to personal circumstances have been refuted by RacingNews365, which confirms the Italian will continue traveling to races as Verstappen's primary strategist.

Why it matters:

Lambiase's retention provides critical stability for Verstappen amid Red Bull's unprecedented organizational turnover. Having guided the Dutch driver since his 2016 debut with the team, their eight-year collaboration represents one of F1's most successful modern driver-engineer relationships – yielding 71 wins and four world titles. This continuity becomes increasingly valuable as the team navigates the departures of Adrian Newey, Christian Horner, and Jonathan Wheatley.

The details:

• Lambiase's emotional reaction during Verstappen's Abu Dhabi title battle – where the Dutchman narrowly missed a fifth championship – highlighted the depth of their professional bond.
• The 45-year-old missed two 2024 races (Austria and Belgium) for family commitments, with Simon Rennie temporarily filling in, sparking speculation about his long-term travel schedule.
• Technical partnership: Lambiase's race-day decision-making has been instrumental in Verstappen's record-breaking qualifying performances and strategic adaptability – particularly evident in 2023's title-winning campaign where Red Bull dominated with 21 pole positions.
• Organizational contrast: While Lambiase stays, Helmut Marko's potential exit after 2025 would mark another major shift in Red Bull's leadership structure, following Horner's recent suspension and Newey's departure.
• Team dynamics: The decision underscores Red Bull's prioritization of proven racecraft expertise amid technical regulation changes, with Lambiase's real-time data interpretation skills remaining vital for Verstappen's aggressive driving style.

What's next:

Lambiase's continued presence creates a rare anchor point for Verstappen as Red Bull rebuilds its technical leadership. The 2026 season will test whether this core relationship can maintain its championship edge despite:

• The team's ongoing transition to new technical leadership under Liam Lawson's potential promotion
• Increased competition from Ferrari and McLaren's 2026 power unit developments
• Potential rule adjustments targeting Red Bull's dominant car concepts

This stability decision suggests Red Bull recognizes that Verstappen's unparalleled racecraft – honed through years of seamless communication with Lambiase – remains their most valuable asset in defending against emerging challengers.