Juan Pablo Montoya predicts Gianpiero Lambiase promotion and new Max Verstappen pairing at Red Bull. Juan Pablo Montoya comments on Red Bull’s future leadership.

Red Bull is undergoing major changes at the top of its organization. In less than two years, the team’s key figures—Adrian Newey, Jonathan Wheatley, Christian Horner, and Helmut Marko—have all moved on. Newey has joined Aston Martin, Wheatley has seized the opportunity to become Audi’s team principal, while Christian Horner and Helmut Marko have been “let go,” though under different circumstances.

Now, Laurent Mekies leads the Milton Keynes operation, and reports suggest Gianpiero Lambiase could be promoted from Max Verstappen’s race engineer and head of track engineering to a role with broader managerial responsibilities.

Both Verstappen and Gianpiero Lambiase hinted during end-of-season team radio in Abu Dhabi that they might not remain a “de facto pair” in 2026. Juan Pablo Montoya believes this is a realistic scenario, even though some sources have denied it. “I don’t think Red Bull will hire anyone from outside,” Juan Pablo Montoya told Grosvenor Casinos. “Mekies has done a great job, and I think Lambiase will be promoted. He will have a more managerial role, less connected to the car, perhaps also for personal reasons. Max Verstappen will have to work with someone new, and it might take time for them to find the right rhythm together.”

Adapting to a new voice in his ear would be a significant change for Verstappen, who has built a legendary rapport with Gianpiero Lambiase based on direct honesty and mutual trust. If Montoya’s prediction holds true, the 2026 season will not just be a technical reset for Red Bull with the new engine regulations, but a human one as well. Finding a replacement who can manage Verstappen’s high-intensity communication style will be a critical task for Laurent Mekies as he continues to reshape the team in his own image.

Ultimately, this potential managerial promotion for Gianpiero Lambiase would signify the end of one of the most successful partnerships in F1 history. It forces Max Verstappen into a new technical dynamic at a time when Red Bull is undergoing its most significant leadership overhaul in decades.