Verstappen's race engineer Lambiase to join McLaren as head of race engineering in 2028

Red Bull’s long‑time race engineer for Max Verstappen, Gianpiero Lambiase, is set to leave the team for McLaren in 2028, taking the role of head of race engineering. The move follows his recent rejection of a team‑principal offer from Aston Martin and comes as Verstappen has warned he would quit F1 if Lambiase departs.

Why it matters:

• Lambiase is the only race engineer Verstappen has had since 2016; his departure could destabilise the four‑time champion’s on‑track performance.
• Verstappen’s public threat to walk away adds pressure on Red Bull to retain key personnel or risk losing its star driver before his contract ends in 2028.
• McLaren gains a rare insider with intimate knowledge of Red Bull’s race‑day operations, potentially accelerating the team’s technical progress.
• The switch highlights a broader talent‑drain from Red Bull, following recent exits of Adrian Newey, Christian Horner and Helmut Marko.

The details:

• Lambiase will remain at Red Bull until the team grants his release for the 2028 season.
• At McLaren, he will oversee the race‑engineering department, reporting to team principal Andrea Stella, whose position is unchanged.
• The 45‑year‑old turned down Aston Martin’s offer to become team principal, citing McLaren’s technical project as more appealing.
• He joins other former Red Bull staff at McLaren: technical director Rob Marshall (2024) and sporting director Will Courtenay (2024).
• Verstappen has repeatedly said, “I only work with him. As soon as he stops, I stop too,” underscoring the personal nature of their partnership.
• Both Red Bull and McLaren declined to comment on the pending move.

What's next:

• Verstappen’s future remains uncertain; he has a contract through 2028 but has hinted at leaving at season’s end if Lambiase departs.
• McLaren will integrate Lambiase into its engineering hierarchy ahead of the 2026 regulation changes, aiming to close the performance gap with Red Bull.
• Red Bull must decide whether to replace Lambiase internally or risk a disruptive reshuffle that could affect its championship prospects.