New details have emerged regarding the serious personal issues that forced Gianpiero Lambiase, Max Verstappen’s long-time race engineer, to miss several races during the season. His tears at the end of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix quickly spread across social media. Seeing Lambiase devastated on the pit wall after Verstappen’s failed comeback deeply moved many fans.
The emotion was not so much linked to the sporting result itself, but rather to the awareness that Red Bull’s historic race engineer had been facing extremely difficult months on a personal level. Within the paddock, it had been known for some time that his absences were connected to matters far more serious than anything happening on track.
An announcement from the family
During several races, Lambiase was unable to work trackside with his driver and was forced to remain at home for reasons that went well beyond Formula 1. The explanation for his absence from a number of Grands Prix during the recently concluded season was shared on the Facebook profile of a family member.
In a post that was mistakenly left public, it was revealed that someone very close to Max Verstappen’s right-hand man is battling cancer. The message was shared alongside a video showing cupcakes made for the medical staff who have been assisting her throughout these months.
“I will be forever grateful to all the doctors, friends and my family for their love, kindness and generosity. The journey is not over yet, but with the support I have behind me, nothing scares me. I love you all,” read the caption that accompanied the post.
Following the publication of this message, the family asked for privacy and discretion, given the extreme sensitivity and delicacy of the situation.
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