Verstappen’s race engineer GianPiero Lambiase poached by McLaren

Isack Hadjar didn’t mince words after the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, saying the atmosphere inside Red Bull “wasn’t good.”

Three races into the season and Max Verstappen’s sixth‑place finish in Australia remains the team’s best result — a far cry from the dominance fans in Milton Keynes had grown used to. Add to that the constant speculation about Verstappen’s future and his growing frustration with Formula 1’s new direction, and the tension is impossible to ignore. “This isn’t racing — it’s a joke,” the four‑time world champion said after the Chinese Grand Prix.

Now, a new development threatens to deepen Red Bull’s internal turmoil. According to Dutch outlets close to Verstappen — including De Limburger and De Telegraaf — his longtime race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, has received an offer to join McLaren in 2028. The reports claim McLaren wants him as team principal, a role currently held by Andrea Stella. Both Lambiase and Stella have contracts that expire in 2027.

Verstappen’s close bond with right-hand man Lambiase

Lambiase, a key figure in Verstappen’s rise, has been the subject of repeated rumors linking him to other teams. Ferrari reportedly approached him for 2024, and Aston Martin for 2025. If he were to leave Red Bull, it would immediately fuel speculation about Verstappen’s own future. The Dutch star is under contract with the team through 2028, but with several exit clauses. His bond with Lambiase runs deep — together they’ve secured all four of Verstappen’s world titles. “There’s no one better to work with, honestly,” Verstappen said in a recent interview.

Meanwhile, Red Bull is already undergoing a major internal shake‑up. In recent months, Adrian Newey, Christian Horner, and Helmut Marko have all departed Milton Keynes. They’re not the only high‑profile exits: chief mechanic Matt Caller and engine engineer David Mart left for Audi, while Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay moved to McLaren and Tom Hart joined Williams. The organization has been forced into a full‑scale restructuring.

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