Max Verstappen’s Formula One future has been thrown into further doubt after it emerged that his long-time race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, is set to leave Red Bull.
Lambiase is poised to take up a position with McLaren, one of Red Bull’s main rivals, after his current contract ends at the end of next season. A deal is already in place for him to join the British team once his Red Bull agreement expires after the 2027 season, although there is a possibility that the move could happen earlier.
The development adds another significant twist to Verstappen’s situation at Red Bull. He has worked with Lambiase since 2016, making the engineer one of the most familiar and important figures in the Dutch driver’s long spell with the team.
Any departure would mark the end of a partnership that has lasted through much of Verstappen’s success in Formula One. The timing is likely to be closely watched, given the uncertainty around the driver’s wider future and the significance of the relationship between driver and race engineer in modern F1.
Red Bull has not yet publicly detailed any plans to replace Lambiase, and the prospect of his move to McLaren will inevitably be of interest across the paddock. With a contract already agreed for a future switch, the only unknown is whether he will remain in place until the end of next season or leave sooner.
For Verstappen, the loss of a trusted engineer would be another destabilising factor at a time when his future is already under scrutiny. Lambiase has been a constant presence in the background of his Red Bull career since 2016, and his exit would represent a notable change in the team structure around the reigning star driver.
