Former Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen is set to lose another close confidant at Red Bull. His race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, is reportedly moving to a rival team.
The move has been confirmed by both Red Bull and Lambiase’s prospective new team, McLaren. Reports had previously indicated the impending transfer.
The Italian-British engineer is said to have already signed a lucrative contract with the reigning world champion team, with the transfer expected to be completed after the current season. While Lambiase’s exact role at the ‘papaya-orange’ team remains unspecified, it is rumored that he could even be in line for a future team principal position.
Reportedly, Aston Martin and Williams also showed interest in the 45-year-old, but McLaren seemingly won the competition for his services.
Lambiase is the Third Long-Time Verstappen Associate to Depart Red Bull
Lambiase began his Formula 1 career in 2005, initially working as an engineer for the now-defunct Jordan team. He later held similar roles at their successor teams, Midland, Spyker, and Force India.
He eventually moved to Red Bull in 2015, becoming Daniil Kvyat’s race engineer. He retained this position when Verstappen replaced Kvyat in early 2016. Since then, he has worked closely with the Dutchman and is considered a close confidant. Verstappen won all four of his world championship titles with Lambiase, and the two are also good friends privately.
Following the departures of aerodynamics chief Adrian Newey (who moved to Aston Martin) and motorsport advisor Dr. Helmut Marko (who retired from Formula 1), Lambiase is now the third long-standing associate Verstappen has lost at Red Bull in a short period.
For months now, rumors have persisted that the Dutchman is keen to leave Red Bull, either to join another team or to depart from Formula 1 entirely.