Red Bull confirms departure of Verstappen’s race engineer in major shake-up

Red Bull Racing has officially confirmed that Gianpiero Lambiase, the long-time race engineer of Max Verstappen, will leave the team in 2028, marking the end of one of the most successful partnerships in Formula 1.

Lambiase, who has worked alongside Verstappen since 2016, has been a key figure in the Dutch driver’s four world championships, forming one of the most effective driver-engineer duos on the grid.

The British-Italian engineer will join McLaren as Chief Racing Officer, a senior leadership role that reflects his importance within the sport.

Despite the announcement, Red Bull clarified that Lambiase will remain with the team until the end of his current contract, continuing in his dual role as Head of Racing and Verstappen’s race engineer, with both sides still committed to achieving further success together.

The departure represents another significant loss for Red Bull Racing, which has seen several key figures exit in recent years, raising concerns about internal stability and performance in the 2026 season.

Beyond the technical impact, the move could have major implications for Verstappen’s future, given the close relationship between driver and engineer, and comes at a time when the team is facing increasing competition and regulatory challenges.