Max Verstappen has broken his silence on the news that his long-time race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase will depart Red Bull for McLaren in 2028.
Verstappen said Lambiase had informed him of the offer and sought his approval before making a final decision. The Dutch driver told Viaplay that he responded by saying Lambiase would be “daft not to take it,” adding that they had already achieved everything together and the move represented a fantastic opportunity, especially with Lambiase’s family in mind and the security it would bring.
Verstappen noted that Lambiase had asked to hear his support directly from him, which he provided. He also revealed that his father, Jos Verstappen, no longer expects his son’s future at Red Bull to be tied to Lambiase’s presence, stating that Max is likely to “just continue” after the engineer’s exit.
The four-time world champion has endured a difficult start to the 2026 season, currently sitting ninth in the standings after the opening three rounds.
Lambiase, who has served as Verstappen’s race engineer since the Dutchman joined Red Bull in 2016, will take up the role of Chief Racing Officer at McLaren, reporting directly to team principal Andrea Stella. His departure will include a period of gardening leave, meaning he will not assume his modern role until January 2028.
In the meantime, Verstappen will work with a new race engineer, Tom Hart, who has been promoted from within Red Bull’s technical setup after several years with the team.
