Max Verstappen has publicly stated he encouraged his longtime race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase to move to McLaren, saying it would be “crazy not to go,” according to reporting from Grande Prêmio. The Red Bull Racing driver’s comments address Lambiase’s departure from the team where the pair worked together for multiple championship seasons.
Lambiase served as Verstappen’s race engineer during the Dutchman’s dominant period with Red Bull, including his 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 world championship campaigns. The engineer became known to the wider F1 audience through radio exchanges with Verstappen during races, often marked by blunt technical discussions and occasional tension during high-pressure moments.
Verstappen’s endorsement of the McLaren move
Verstappen indicated he supported Lambiase’s decision to join McLaren rather than attempt to dissuade him from leaving Red Bull. The three-time world champion characterized the opportunity at McLaren as too significant to refuse, though the specific role Lambiase will assume at the Woking-based team has not been detailed in available reporting.
McLaren enters the 2026 season with drivers Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri, having challenged for race wins throughout the 2025 campaign. The team finished second in the 2025 constructors’ championship and has invested heavily in personnel and infrastructure ahead of the 2026 technical regulations overhaul.
Red Bull’s engineering changes
Red Bull Racing operates under team principal Laurent Mekies in 2026 following Christian Horner’s dismissal in July 2024. The team fields Verstappen alongside Yuki Tsunoda this season. Lambiase’s departure represents a significant change to Verstappen’s immediate support structure, given their extended working relationship and the detailed technical understanding built over multiple seasons together.
The 2026 regulations introduce major technical changes including new power units with approximately 50 percent electric power contribution and active aerodynamics. Teams have reshuffled technical staff throughout the grid as they adapt to the new formula. McLaren’s acquisition of an engineer with Lambiase’s track record suggests the team is strengthening its race operations ahead of what it views as a competitive window with the new rules package.
Red Bull has not yet announced who will serve as Verstappen’s race engineer for the remainder of the 2026 season. The next race is the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix at Imola on 4-6 May.