Reports suggest no conflict inside Red Bull as key engineer prepares for 2028 McLaren move
The relationship between Max Verstappen and his long-time race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase has been one of the most successful and recognizable partnerships in modern Formula 1. Following his first world championship title in 2021 with Red Bull, Max Verstappen famously expressed his reliance on Gianpiero Lambiase with a strong emotional statement, saying: “Without him I don’t race.” This comment highlighted just how important the engineer has been to Max Verstappen’s success and development as a driver.
Since Gianpiero Lambiase joined Red Bull alongside Max Verstappen, their chemistry has been immediate and highly effective. Their working relationship has often been described within the paddock as exceptionally strong, with Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko once referring to them as “an old married couple” due to their level of understanding and coordination during race weekends.
However, it was officially confirmed that Gianpiero Lambiase will leave Red Bull Racing at the end of the current cycle and will join McLaren starting from 2028, where he will take on the role of Chief Racing Officer within the Woking-based team’s organizational structure. The move represents one of the most significant technical and managerial transfers in recent Formula 1 seasons.
This major development in the F1 technical market has attracted widespread attention across European media outlets. According to the British tabloid Daily Mail, Max Verstappen reacted differently than many would have expected. Rather than opposing the move, Max Verstappen reportedly supported Gianpiero Lambiase’s decision to accept what has been described as an “astronomical” offer from McLaren.
“A source who asked to remain anonymous told me that Lambiase was offered a fortune,” wrote journalist Jonathan McEvoy in the Daily Mail. “And the fact that he decided to accept it is understandable. There was no objection from Max Verstappen. In fact, quite the opposite—he supported Lambiase in his decision.”
The report suggests that despite the close working relationship between Max Verstappen and Gianpiero Lambiase, there is no internal conflict within Red Bull regarding the engineer’s future. Instead, the situation appears to reflect a professional understanding of career progression and the financial scale of modern Formula 1 team structures.
As the sport continues to evolve, high-profile technical moves like this underline the increasing importance of engineering leadership roles, with teams like McLaren investing heavily to strengthen their long-term competitive structure ahead of the next regulatory era.
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