Verstappen's Race Engineer Lambiase to Stay at Red Bull; Haas Moves 2026 Launch

Red Bull Racing has secured a key piece of its championship puzzle, confirming that Gianpiero Lambiase will continue as Max Verstappen's race engineer. The news ends recent speculation about the highly-rated engineer's future and ensures stability for the four-time world champion. In other developments, the Haas F1 Team has adjusted its 2026 car launch schedule to avoid a bottleneck with other teams.

Why it matters:

Lambiase's retention is crucial for Red Bull as they navigate a period of significant regulatory change and aim to maintain their dominance. The driver-engineer relationship is one of the most critical on the grid, and Lambiase's synergy with Verstappen has been a cornerstone of their recent success. His departure would have been a major disruption, forcing Verstappen to adapt to a new voice during a pivotal season.

The details:

• Staying Put: Despite being linked with other teams, Gianpiero Lambiase has committed his future to Red Bull, continuing his partnership with Max Verstappen that has delivered four drivers' titles.
• Haas Adjusts: The American team has moved its 2026 car launch forward from January 23 to January 19.
• Avoiding the Rush: The change was made to prevent its launch from being overshadowed, as several other teams had also scheduled their reveals for the same day.
• New Partnership: The launch will be a key moment for Haas as it begins its new technical partnership with Toyota, aiming to bounce back from an eighth-place finish in the 2025 Constructors' Championship.

What's next:

With Lambiase secured, Red Bull can now focus its full attention on developing its 2026 contender under the new regulations. For Haas, the earlier launch on January 19 will be the first major public statement of intent for its 2026 campaign, showcasing the early fruits of its collaboration with Toyota as it seeks a significant step up the grid.