McLaren have landed a major signing for their senior leadership team by persuading Gianpiero Lambiase—long-time race engineer to Max Verstappen—to leave Red Bull when his contract expires at the end of 2027. F1 Correspondent Lawrence Barretto examines how McLaren pulled off this blockbuster move, what it signals for Red Bull, and the implications for Verstappen’s future.
How Did McLaren Secure Lambiase?
Lambiase has been a central figure at Red Bull since Verstappen’s debut in 2016, forming one of Formula 1’s closest and most successful driver-engineer partnerships. But despite his deep roots at Red Bull, Lambiase has been exploring his options, with multiple teams—including Aston Martin and McLaren—actively pursuing him for senior management roles.
Red Bull had attempted to broaden his responsibilities, making Lambiase one of the most influential voices within the organization. However, McLaren’s offer of a Chief Racing Officer position—supporting Team Principal Andrea Stella with a focus on race operations—proved irresistible. This move allows Stella to focus on broader team leadership, mirroring a trend across F1 to expand senior management structures for long-term stability.
McLaren’s recent track record as reigning World Champions and their ongoing efforts to future-proof their organization by strengthening their senior staff made them an attractive destination. Lambiase joins recent high-profile recruits from Red Bull, including Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay, highlighting McLaren’s intent to build a consistent championship-contending team.
Impact on Red Bull
For Red Bull, Lambiase’s departure is another in a string of significant personnel losses following the exits of Christian Horner, Helmut Marko, Jonathan Wheatley, Craig Skinner, and Verstappen’s chief mechanic Matt Caller. While staff changes are normal after periods of dominance, the volume and profile of recent departures are noteworthy.
Lambiase remains under contract until the end of 2027, so he is not immediately lost to Red Bull. However, an early release could be negotiated, as seen with past staff moves. Team Principal Laurent Mekies now faces the challenge of revitalizing Red Bull, reversing the trend of exits, and making the team a magnet for top talent once again.
What Does This Mean for Verstappen?
The Verstappen-Lambiase partnership has delivered four World Championships and 71 Grand Prix victories, marking one of modern F1’s most successful duos. Their split will mark the end of an era at Red Bull. While Verstappen is unlikely to be caught off guard by this move, and he is known for his pragmatism, Lambiase’s exit adds another variable to Verstappen’s own future plans.
Verstappen, whose contract runs until 2028, has previously been approached by Mercedes and is known to have “get-out” clauses should Red Bull’s performance falter. With Red Bull struggling in 2026 and Verstappen enduring his toughest start since 2018, the Dutchman must now weigh whether to help rebuild the team, seek a new challenge elsewhere, or even consider taking a break from Formula 1.
Much will depend on how swiftly Red Bull can regain competitiveness, starting with upcoming races. The next few months will be crucial not just for Red Bull’s fortunes on track, but also for their ability to retain top talent and keep Verstappen’s championship ambitions alive.
