What future for GP?
The future of Giampiero Lambiase has once again become a major talking point in the Formula 1 paddock. The long-time race engineer of Max Verstappen, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures behind the Dutch driver’s success, has already secured a move to McLaren and is expected to join the Woking-based team no later than the 2028 season.
However, the key question remains: what role will Lambiase take on once he officially arrives at McLaren? Andrea Stella and Zak Brown had previously explained that Verstappen’s current race engineer would effectively become a right-hand figure to Stella, allowing the Italian team principal to delegate some of his responsibilities. From a formal standpoint, Lambiase is expected to take on the position of Chief Racing Officer, a role that would place him at the heart of McLaren’s trackside operations.
Lambiase as team principal? And what about Stella?
Speaking to Sky Sports F1, Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies offered a very different and rather surprising interpretation of Lambiase’s future. According to Mekies, the Italian engineer is destined to become the actual team principal of McLaren, rather than simply serving as a deputy to Andrea Stella.
“Lambiase has had an extraordinary opportunity. He will become team principal there. [I can do nothing but] wish him all the best. He still has two long years with us. We all tell each other that we want these two years to be very successful, and that’s what we are focusing on,” said Mekies.
If this assessment were to prove accurate, it could imply a further evolution of Andrea Stella’s position within McLaren, potentially elevating him to an even more senior executive role, closer in scope to that of Zak Brown. Alternatively, speculation could once again emerge regarding a possible change of team for the current McLaren team principal. However, such a scenario has already been firmly ruled out by Stella himself and, at this stage, appears far more like a piece of Formula 1 fantasy than a realistic possibility.
The situation therefore remains open to interpretation, with McLaren’s long-term leadership structure still not entirely clear. What is certain, however, is that Giampiero Lambiase’s arrival represents a major strategic move for the team, given his deep experience and proven track record at the highest level of the sport.
So many departures from Red Bull
Laurent Mekies also addressed the significant number of departures among technical staff, engineers and senior figures that Red Bull has experienced in recent years. The team has seen several key individuals leave over the past four to five seasons, raising questions about long-term stability and talent retention.
“We don’t want to take a defensive approach to this. We have lost quite a few key figures over the last four or five years, that’s true,” Laurent Mekies admitted. “We take this very seriously, and everything we do is aimed at ensuring the best possible environment to attract, develop and retain our people.”
He continued by expressing confidence in Red Bull’s ability to manage these transitions effectively, while acknowledging that turnover is a natural part of operating at the highest level of motorsport.
“I am confident that this is an area where we will succeed. Will it be a completely linear path where no one leaves? No. This team develops talent. We are very proud to rely, whenever possible, on internal promotions. If we need to look for a specific combination of skills or experience in the pit lane, we will do so, and we will be happy to do it,” Mekies concluded.
As Red Bull continues to evolve its internal structure while maintaining competitiveness on track, and with McLaren preparing for the arrival of a high-profile figure like Giampiero Lambiase, the long-term dynamics between these two leading teams could become one of the most fascinating storylines in Formula 1 over the coming seasons.
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