Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen is reportedly on the verge of losing a key figure at Red Bull, a move that could signal further shifts within the team.
Reports suggest that Gianpiero Lambiase, Verstappen’s long-standing race engineer, is close to making a move to rival team McLaren.
The Italo-British engineer has reportedly already signed a lucrative contract with the Woking-based outfit, with the transfer expected to finalize after the current season concludes. While Lambiase’s precise role at McLaren remains unconfirmed, speculation suggests he could eventually be in contention for the team principal position.
Both Aston Martin and Williams reportedly expressed interest in the 45-year-old, but McLaren ultimately secured his services in a competitive recruitment battle.
Another Key Departure for Max Verstappen at Red Bull?
Lambiase began his Formula 1 career in 2005, initially working as an engineer for the defunct Jordan team. He then held similar positions with its successor teams: Midland, Spyker, and Force India.
His move to Red Bull came in 2015, where he served as Daniil Kvyat’s race engineer before continuing in that role when Max Verstappen joined the team in early 2016. Since then, Lambiase has been a crucial partner for Verstappen, overseeing all four of his World Championship victories. Their professional relationship has also blossomed into a close personal friendship.
Following the recent high-profile departures of aerodynamics chief Adrian Newey (who joined Aston Martin) and motorsport advisor Dr. Helmut Marko (who retired from Formula 1), Lambiase’s potential exit would mark the third long-standing colleague Verstappen would lose from Red Bull in a short period.
These developments add fuel to long-standing rumors that Verstappen himself might be considering leaving Red Bull for another team, or even stepping away from Formula 1 entirely.