McLaren Racing CEO Zak Brown has clarified the reasoning behind the decision to bring GianPiero Lambiase into the team structure. Speaking to media during McLaren’s media day at the Woking headquarters, Brown explained the strategic vision behind the move and the role the long-time Red Bull race engineer will play within the organisation.
It has already been confirmed in the official announcement that Lambiase, currently Max Verstappen’s race engineer at Red Bull, will join McLaren starting in 2028 after completing a long gardening period. Despite this clarity, speculation quickly emerged within the paddock and media landscape. Some reports even suggested that Lambiase’s arrival could signal a potential exit for Andrea Stella, possibly even toward Ferrari in Maranello. Zak Brown firmly dismissed these rumours.
“I am very excited that Gianpiero will be joining us,” Zak Brown explained. “My job is to ensure stability and a clear vision for the future. Andrea currently holds three roles. I think sometimes people say two, but in reality it is three. He is team principal, he manages the race operations group, and of course he also plays a very important technical role. Andrea is essentially the glue that holds everything together, and in general I believe the role of the team principal has evolved over the years, alongside the growth of the teams.”
Brown continued by addressing workload distribution within the organisation and how Lambiase fits into McLaren’s long-term structure.
“Andrea is perfectly capable of handling two responsibilities,” he said, “but asking him to handle three is too much. So I think Gianpiero will play an important role in that sense as Chief Racing Officer, effectively overseeing the on-track team. That said, my role is always to look at the future and identify who can grow within this sport. GP (Lambiase) has experience, he is still relatively young, and he can grow for many years within McLaren.”
Zak Brown revisits concerns over team structures in F1
Zak Brown also returned to a topic he has long been vocal about: the sharing of resources and personnel between Formula 1 teams, particularly those under the same ownership structure. In the past, Brown has openly criticised the relationship between Red Bull and Racing Bulls, describing it as an unusual and potentially problematic arrangement within top-level sport.
The issue has resurfaced recently following the movement of staff between Racing Bulls and Red Bull without gardening leave, due to both teams operating under the same ownership structure. Brown highlighted the contrast between this internal flexibility and the strict restrictions imposed on Lambiase before his eventual move to McLaren.
“I have always believed that A teams and B teams should be as separated as possible,” Brown stated. “I understand how the situation between the two teams has developed, but in no other top-level sport is something like this allowed, because it risks compromising sporting integrity and fairness.”
He continued by referencing multiple examples from recent Formula 1 seasons and beyond.
“I have said this from day one. We have seen on track Daniel Ricciardo, when he was racing for Racing Bulls at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, take the fastest lap point away from us to benefit the other team (Red Bull). We have also seen intellectual property issues from Aston Martin/Racing Point regarding brake ducts, and we have seen employees move from one team to another overnight without financial compensation, including between Haas and Ferrari. That creates an unfair financial advantage and an unfair sporting advantage.”
Brown concluded by drawing a comparison with other major sports structures.
“Can you imagine a Premier League match between two clubs owned by the same group?” he said. “One might need to win to avoid relegation, while the other might be able to afford to lose. That is the risk. In my view, power unit supply should be the highest level of collaboration allowed. Beyond that, all eleven teams should be as independent as possible.”
Zak Brown’s comments underscore McLaren’s commitment to building a robust, independent leadership structure as they look toward the 2028 season and beyond. By bringing in a seasoned professional like Lambiase to oversee trackside operations, the team aims to streamline its management while continuing to advocate for a more transparent and fair competitive environment across the entire Formula 1 grid.
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