Max Verstappen explains Gianpiero Lambiase split: “I would have been an idiot to stop him”. Max Verstappen discusses his split with race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase.

The Miami Grand Prix marks the first race weekend since the announcement of the split between Gianpiero Lambiase and Max Verstappen.

Verstappen parts ways with Lambiase

Max Verstappen has gradually seen the core group behind his Red Bull success story break apart over recent years. One by one, key figures working behind the scenes during his dominant era have moved on, starting with Adrian Newey and now including Gianpiero Lambiase.

The separation from his race engineer—initially expected no earlier than 2028—came after discussions between Verstappen and Lambiase himself, whom the Dutch driver considers almost like an older brother. It was in fact Verstappen who encouraged the British engineer to accept a new challenge, recognising the scale of the offer presented by McLaren.

Speaking in Miami, Verstappen returned to the topic and made it clear that he would have been “an idiot” if he had tried to keep Lambiase at Red Bull under those circumstances.

The words of Verstappen

“I think times change, and I will have to work with someone else. Considering the offer he received, I would have been an idiot if I had tried to keep him. It’s not always just about me, but also about his career and his future: for me it was an obvious choice. Now we look ahead and work with different engineers. I’m sure we will find solutions,” said the four-time world champion.

“We have a very honest and open relationship, everything was fine. I wish him all the best and there is no bad feeling from my side. As a team, we look to the future and we want to improve,” he added.

When asked whether Lambiase’s departure could accelerate the retirement scenario he had hinted at after Suzuka, Verstappen responded very clearly:

“His departure has nothing to do with my future.”

In summary, Max Verstappen’s candid remarks in Miami clarify that Gianpiero Lambiase’s move to McLaren was supported by the driver as a necessary step for the engineer’s career, and while the Red Bull technical lineup continues to shift, Verstappen remains focused on the future of the team without linking these departures to his own retirement plans.