Red Bull Racing faces another big blow, with Gianpiero Lambiase reportedly on his way out. After years as Max Verstappen’s race engineer—and more recently, a senior leader—Lambiase seems set to join McLaren at the end of the 2027 season. Word is, McLaren lured him in with an impressive, long-term contract, beating out heavy interest from Aston Martin and Williams.
Lambiase isn’t just another engineer switching teams. At McLaren, he’s expected to shape the team’s direction moving forward. There’s also been plenty of chatter about Andrea Stella’s future as team principal, with Ferrari rumored to be circling. For now, though, it looks like Lambiase will work alongside Stella, not replace him.
McLaren’s clearly making a habit of snapping up Red Bull talent—Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay have both made the same jump recently, adding to McLaren’s experience and know-how.
For Verstappen, losing Lambiase is huge. They’ve been a rock-solid duo since 2016, and their partnership has led to several championships. Breaking up that team is a serious shift, not just for Max, but for Red Bull as a whole.
Red Bull has already experienced several major exits in recent times. Renowned designer Adrian Newey moved to Aston Martin, while Jonathan Wheatley left for a new role with Audi’s upcoming project. In addition, long-time advisor Helmut Marko stepped away, and former team principal Christian Horner was replaced by Laurent Mekies.
At this stage, neither Red Bull nor McLaren has issued an official statement regarding the reported move.
Leave a Reply