Max Verstappen’s close associates are experiencing turmoil, which may impact Red Bull’s chances of retaining him.
The exit of Max Verstappen’s long-time race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase will intensify the speculation surrounding the four-time world champion’s immediate future in Formula 1.
On Thursday, it was announced that Lambiase — commonly referred to as “GP” by fans familiar with F1 broadcasts, the voice accompanying Verstappen’s occasionally tense radio communications — will take on the role of chief racing officer at McLaren by no later than 2028, with his contract at Red Bull concluding at the end of the current season.
This revelation is significant and could have serious implications moving forward.
The timing of Lambiase’s transition is particularly unfortunate for Red Bull, as they aim to persuade their star driver to continue racing beyond 2026. Verstappen indicated after the Japanese Grand Prix that he is seriously considering stepping away from F1 at the end of the year, a sentiment he had previously suggested. The possibility of the Dutch driver not remaining with Red Bull in 2027 — or, at the very least, competing for a different team — now seems more plausible than ever.
His primary reason for this consideration appears to be his openly expressed dislike for F1’s new cars — which incorporate hybrid engines with an unprecedented focus on battery management and power distribution — but the dynamics within the Red Bull team, where he has competed since 2016, are also noteworthy.
It would be simplistic to assert that Verstappen’s wish to depart is solely due to the uncompetitive nature of this year’s car. While that is indeed a factor in the team’s current situation, it may oversimplify the broader context of what has transpired at Red Bull Racing alongside the onset of an F1 era characterized by significant controversy and debate. Lambiase’s upcoming departure aligns with a trend that has been developing behind the scenes for some time.
Red Bull’s title dynasty has collapsed
The once-dominant Red Bull team, with which Verstappen secured four consecutive world titles from 2021 to 2024, has deteriorated at an alarming rate.
The most notable event was the unexpected dismissal of team principal Christian Horner last July, and while it is easy to focus solely on that departure, there have been numerous other significant exits.
Horner’s departure followed closely after the exits of design icon Adrian Newey and long-serving sporting director Jonathan Wheatley to Aston Martin and Audi, respectively. Former Red Bull designer Rob Marshall had previously moved to McLaren a few years ago — his cars clinched the constructors’ championship in 2024 and 2025, with the latter also featuring Lando Norris’ drivers’ title. In joining McLaren, Lambiase will reunite with Marshall and former Red Bull head of strategy Will Courtenay, who began his role as McLaren’s sporting director this year after a lengthy contractual dispute between the two teams.
Additionally, one of the most significant departures from Verstappen’s perspective is that of Helmut Marko, Red Bull’s racing advisor. Verstappen’s connection with Marko was so strong that during the 2024 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, he informed the media that he would not continue at Red Bull if the Austrian were to be dismissed around that time. Marko quietly left the team at the end of last year.
More recently, and away from public scrutiny, there have been key departures within Verstappen’s inner circle. The Dutchman’s chief mechanic, Matt Caller, transitioned to Audi over the winter, while the highly respected front-end mechanic Ole Schack is also set to depart.
Several other essential members of his team, including David Manning and Tom Hart, are also expected to leave — sources have informed ESPN that filling these positions has been a challenge. Another unnoticed departure was that of chief designer Craig Skinner, someone highly regarded by Verstappen, which was announced this February. It can be easy to overlook individuals in teams who do not have prominent public profiles, but all three of these individuals were seen as crucial to the daily operations of Red Bull’s current F1 setup.
This was not how Red Bull envisioned their year unfolding. Horner’s abrupt exit last year was perceived by many, both internally and externally, as an opportunity to eliminate the toxic culture some believed existed under the long-time team principal. It also signified a clear indication that control of the team had shifted to the broader Red Bull organization, based in Austria and led by executive Oliver Mintzlaff, who played a key role in Horner’s dismissal.
Horner’s successor, Laurent Mekies, managed Verstappen’s dramatic title resurgence last year, largely credited with a car upgrade at the Italian Grand Prix, which had been planned long before that transition occurred, but that competitive season has transitioned into a year that appears likely to be frustrating at best. Mintzlaff’s bold decision to remove Horner so decisively — and, it must be noted, without a well-conceived succession plan — seems to have failed in halting the decline at Red Bull. Externally, the former championship-winning team resembles a sinking ship — following the announcement of Lambiase’s departure, Verstappen must feel increasingly aware that he is now one of the few who has donned a life jacket and headed for the nearest lifeboat.
The contrast between Red Bull and Lambiase’s new team, McLaren, the reigning world champions, is stark. On Thursday, just hours after many media outlets, including ESPN, reported Lambiase’s move, both McLaren and Red Bull issued statements confirming the news. McLaren adopted an almost triumphant tone, highlighting the trifecta of talent it has acquired from Red Bull’s once-great team. McLaren stated: “The team’s ability to attract and secure top talent, like Lambiase, along with Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay, alongside the retention and promotion of highly talented individuals already within the team, is a testament to the strategic vision and culture that are integrally embodied in the McLaren Mastercard F1 Team under the leadership of Zak Brown and Andrea Stella, who are also both on long-term contracts.”
The final statement aimed to quell rumors that surfaced on Thursday suggesting Stella might have signed a deal to join Ferrari, rumors which McLaren has strongly denied. By enticing Lambiase away, CEO Zak Brown and Stella appear to have gained a significant advantage in future driver market negotiations. No one in F1 can predict what Verstappen’s next move will be, and whether any decision to not race in 2027 would be a temporary break or something more permanent, but securing the Dutchman’s most trusted confidant in the paddock suddenly positions McLaren as a team to consider as a potential destination for his services should he choose to continue his Formula 1 career beyond his time with Red Bull.
Lambiase’s departure a big blow
It would be easy to regard Lambiase as merely Verstappen’s race engineer — a position he has held since Verstappen’s successful debut for the team at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix. However, the reality is that he has been a vital component of the team for an extended period. Lambiase’s influence behind the scenes is considerable.
He was appointed Head of Race Engineering in 2022 and then Head of Racing at Red Bull in 2024, roles he managed alongside his responsibilities as Verstappen’s race engineer. In retrospect, combining these roles now seems like a significant oversight by Red Bull — sources have indicated to ESPN that the team seriously contemplated assigning Verstappen a different race engineer in 2025 to alleviate some of the pressure on Lambiase, a change both parties were open to. However, that adjustment did not materialize. It was a substantial undertaking on top of Lambiase’s other duties within the race team.
One only needs to listen to their radio exchanges to grasp the depth of Verstappen’s relationship with Lambiase. Their communication is candid and at times brutally honest, but it has been the foundation of one of the most successful careers in Formula 1 history. Throughout both the highs and lows of his time at Red Bull, Lambiase has consistently been by Verstappen’s side. Consequently, their bond is strong — Verstappen once shared with Dutch media that he knew he could reach out to Lambiase 24/7 about anything, a sentiment that he indicated was mutual. The pair shared an emotional moment after Verstappen narrowly missed out on the 2025 championship by just two points. Lambiase’s departure will only heighten any uncertainties Verstappen may have regarding the current trajectory of Red Bull.
Lambiase’s next career move is also noteworthy. It is significant when an individual transitions from one team to another in a lateral move, and this appears to be the case with Lambiase’s shift to Brown’s McLaren team. Sources have informed ESPN that Lambiase was approached by Aston Martin at least once in the past year regarding a potential role as team principal, but those overtures were declined. Nevertheless, he has accepted a position with McLaren, which is comparable — in terms of his standing within the organizational hierarchy relative to the most senior figures in the team — to his current role at Red Bull.
Multiple sources have indicated to ESPN that the atmosphere within the current Red Bull team has been poor — a sentiment only intensified by the team’s slow and frustrating start to the new F1 regulations. The sight of a senior team member — and perhaps the closest ally of its star driver — willingly moving laterally to another team will only reinforce the notion that something is fundamentally amiss within Red Bull’s race operations.
No one can predict with certainty what Verstappen’s next steps will be, but after discussions with various sources around the F1 paddock on Thursday, the prevailing sentiment — both within and outside of Red Bull — was clear. Lambiase’s move, even if it is not immediate, could serve as the final blow to Red Bull’s efforts to persuade Verstappen to endure his current dissatisfaction with Formula 1 and continue racing beyond 2026.
He has several months to make that decision — he can activate release clauses in August if he is not in second place or higher, but he does not need to inform the team of his decision until October — yet following the latest developments, the indications already seem to suggest a clear outcome.
Source: espn.com
