Max Verstappen reacts to race engineer Lambiase's McLaren switch
Max Verstappen revealed that race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase sought his approval before accepting a move to McLaren in 2028, with the Dutchman encouraging him to take the opportunity. Lambiase's exit comes amid a difficult start to the season for Verstappen and growing speculation about his own future at Red Bull.
Max Verstappen reacts to Lambiase's exit (Photo Reuters)
Four-time Formula One world champion Max Verstappen has broken his silence on Red Bull Racing race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase’s shock move to McLaren in 2028, revealing that Lambiase sought his approval before making the decision.
Red Bull confirmed last week that Lambiase, their long-time head of race engineering and Verstappen’s trusted race engineer, will leave the team at the end of his current contract, which runs through the 2027 season.
Speaking at a Viaplay event in Amsterdam, Verstappen shared details of their conversation. “He told me what kind of offer he received. I told him he would be stupid not to take it. We have already achieved everything together. Then he gets such a great offer, also considering his family and the security it would give him. He asked me for a sort of permission, and I told him he absolutely had to do it. He really wanted to hear that from me," said Verstappen.
Lambiase’s impending departure has added fuel to speculation surrounding Verstappen’s own future in Formula One. The Dutch driver has recently expressed frustration with the sport’s evolving technical regulations, particularly the increased emphasis on battery-powered systems, which he believes have altered the racing experience.
Those frustrations have coincided with a difficult start to the 2026 season for Verstappen and Red Bull. The team has struggled to adapt to the latest regulations, leaving the reigning champion off the pace in the early races. Verstappen has managed just 12 points from the opening three races, placing him ninth in the drivers’ standings.
Despite the uncertainty and growing rumours, Verstappen remains contracted to Red Bull until the end of the 2028 season. However, Lambiase’s exit marks the end of one of Formula One’s most successful driver-engineer partnerships, one that played a key role in Verstappen’s championship dominance.
As Red Bull navigates both performance challenges and key personnel changes, the spotlight will remain firmly on Verstappen and how he responds to one of the more testing phases of his career.
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