Max Verstappen Reveals Key Update on Gianpiero Lambiase Replacement

Max Verstappen says planning has started for a successor to Gianpiero Lambiase, with his long-time race engineer set to leave Red Bull for McLaren in 2028.

Lambiase has been central to Verstappen’s rise, anchoring race management, tyre calls, and in-lap preparation through multiple title campaigns across more than a decade.

Speaking to Viaplay, Verstappen indicated potential candidates are already identified, with an internal promotion most likely, though no names are being discussed publicly yet.

He described the succession as a phased process, beginning with shadowing and systems familiarisation, and suggested initial steps could start before the end of the year.

That approach reflects how critical the engineer-driver interface is in modern F1, where calm radio management and rapid strategy modelling can swing marginal races.

Lambiase will move into a senior leadership role at McLaren, expected to be chief racing officer, following the McLaren swoop that reshapes their technical and sporting structure.

Within the Red Bull camp, RB team principal Laurent Mekies has suggested the remit could broaden toward team-lead responsibilities, underlining McLaren’s long-term intent with the hire.

As 2028 approaches, Verstappen says information sharing with Lambiase will narrow, a standard risk-mitigation step to protect processes, software models, and race procedures from migrating to a rival.

Red Bull must manage continuity through the handover, embedding a successor early in briefings, simulator sessions, and test planning to minimise execution risk on qualifying and race days.

The shift follows months of paddock speculation and earlier denials, including Red Bull rebuttals in May, as reported in previous coverage.

For now, Lambiase remains embedded in Verstappen’s programme, with the focus on recovering momentum after setbacks like the Monaco crash during Red Bull’s 2026 title defence.

Clarity on the succession plan is expected later this season, once Red Bull confirms roles and begins structured onboarding alongside race-weekend responsibilities.

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Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.