Gianpiero Lambiase to Leave Red Bull and Join McLaren
Red Bull have confirmed that Gianpiero Lambiase, Max Verstappen’s long-time race engineer, will leave the team when his current contract expires in 2028.
Lambiase, widely known in the paddock and among fans as “GP”, will join McLaren as Chief Racing Officer, adding another major name to the Woking-based team’s growing leadership structure.
The move is a significant one, not only because of Lambiase’s long association with Verstappen, but also because it continues McLaren’s recent trend of recruiting senior talent from Red Bull.
The End of a Long Red Bull Partnership
Lambiase joined Red Bull in 2015 and initially worked as race engineer for Daniil Kvyat.
His career-defining partnership began in 2016 when Max Verstappen was promoted from Toro Rosso to Red Bull. From there, Lambiase became one of the most recognisable voices on the Red Bull pit wall, guiding Verstappen through race weekends, strategy calls, pressure moments, and championship fights.
Their radio exchanges became a familiar part of Formula 1 coverage, often showing the direct and sometimes fiery nature of their working relationship.
Together, Lambiase and Verstappen experienced some of Red Bull’s greatest modern successes, including multiple World Championship-winning campaigns.
More recently, Lambiase also took on the role of Head of Racing at Red Bull while continuing as Verstappen’s race engineer.
Red Bull Confirm Lambiase Will Remain Until 2028
Red Bull have confirmed that Lambiase will continue in his current roles until his planned departure.
That means he will remain Head of Racing and race engineer to Verstappen until his contract ends in 2028.
In their statement, Red Bull described him as a valued member of the team and made it clear that both sides remain committed to adding more success before he leaves.
This is important for Red Bull, as Lambiase’s exit is not immediate. The team have time to plan for the transition and avoid a sudden disruption to Verstappen’s race operations.
However, even with that time, losing someone so deeply connected to Verstappen’s success will be a major change.
McLaren Add Another Senior Red Bull Figure
McLaren have confirmed that Lambiase will join as Chief Racing Officer, reporting to Team Principal Andrea Stella.
The role already exists within McLaren’s structure, but its responsibilities are currently being handled by Stella alongside his Team Principal duties.
By bringing in Lambiase, McLaren are clearly looking to strengthen the senior racing side of the organisation and allow Stella to focus more fully on the broader leadership of the team.
Lambiase is also not the first senior Red Bull figure to make the move to McLaren.
Rob Marshall joined McLaren as Technical Director, Engineering & Design, while Will Courtenay also moved into the role of Sporting Director.
Adding Lambiase continues that pattern and shows McLaren’s intention to build a championship-level structure across technical, sporting, and race operations.
Why This Move Matters
This is more than just a personnel change.
Race engineers and senior racing leaders play a critical role in modern Formula 1. They influence how teams operate during race weekends, how drivers are managed under pressure, and how quickly decisions are made during high-stress situations.
Lambiase brings years of experience from inside one of the most successful Red Bull eras in Formula 1 history.
For McLaren, that kind of experience is extremely valuable.
The team have already shown strong momentum in recent seasons, and this appointment suggests they are looking beyond short-term performance. They are building a structure designed to keep them fighting for championships over the long term.
A Big Change for Verstappen
For Max Verstappen, Lambiase’s eventual departure will mark the end of one of Formula 1’s most recognisable driver-engineer partnerships.
The relationship between a driver and race engineer is built on trust, communication, and understanding under pressure. In Verstappen and Lambiase’s case, that partnership has been developed over more than a decade.
Replacing that will not be simple.
Red Bull have time to prepare, but whoever eventually steps into that role will need to understand not only the technical demands of the job, but also the unique way Verstappen operates during a race weekend.
McLaren’s Long-Term Vision Becomes Clearer
McLaren’s recent recruitment strategy shows a team that is thinking seriously about sustained success.
Under Zak Brown and Andrea Stella, McLaren have worked to rebuild their Formula 1 operation into a serious championship contender. Bringing in figures such as Marshall, Courtenay, and now Lambiase strengthens that vision.
The team are not just trying to win races.
They are trying to build the kind of organisation that can consistently challenge at the front.
Lambiase’s arrival, once his Red Bull contract ends, will add another layer of experience to that project.
Final Thoughts
Gianpiero Lambiase’s move from Red Bull to McLaren is one of the most significant leadership changes confirmed for the coming years.
His long-standing partnership with Max Verstappen has been central to Red Bull’s modern success, and his eventual departure will mark the end of an important chapter for the team.
For McLaren, this is a major statement.
By securing Lambiase as Chief Racing Officer, they continue to strengthen their leadership structure and show clear intent to remain a championship-winning force in Formula 1.
The move may only take effect by 2028, but its impact will already be felt across the paddock.
