Red Bull Faces Another Dramatic Exit from F1

It seems Red Bull is dealing with yet another significant departure in Formula 1 this time around.

Reports indicate that engineer Giampiero Lambiase, who is well-known for his work as Max Verstappen’s race engineer, has decided to join McLaren for the 2027 season. While the specifics of this move aren’t fully fleshed out, it appears Lambiase will take on a supportive role under current McLaren team principal Andrea Stella.

In addition to his role with Verstappen, Lambiase also serves as Red Bull’s head of race engineering.

Lambiase isn’t the first big name to leave Red Bull recently; chief technical officer Adrian Newey has transitioned to Aston Martin, and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley also departed the team. Wheatley had recently taken on a role at Audi but resigned amid speculation about a move to Aston Martin.

Adding to these changes, Red Bull let go of team principal Christian Horner in July last year.

Two more senior figures from Red Bull have also made the leap to McLaren: Rob Marshall has signed on as chief designer for the 2024 season, while Will Courtenay left his position as head of race strategy for a sporting director role at McLaren earlier this year.

Lambiase is now the third pivotal leader from Red Bull to join McLaren since 2024.

Stella, who is currently the team principal at McLaren, also effectively serves as the technical director. Lambiase’s role is reportedly aimed at giving Stella more headspace to focus on leadership duties.

Zac Brown has long highlighted the importance of aligning the right people in key roles within an organization. In a conversation I had with him amidst McLaren’s impressive rise in the standings during 2023, he mentioned the significant management reshuffling.

“There are a lot of great people at McLaren who’ve contributed to that,” Brown remarked back in October 2023. “We’ve reshaped the team principal position and essentially the top three senior roles within the racing team, with Andrea Stella in charge.”

“This allowed us to rebuild the team and elevate the talented individuals already at McLaren. It’s remarkable because the team that gave us that initial car earlier this year is the same team that’s delivered this phenomenal race car we have now.”

“Honestly, we weren’t set up for success; the leadership approach wasn’t effectively leveraging our people. That was the real change back at the factory,” he elaborated.

Lambiase and Verstappen first began their collaboration during the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, achieving four drivers’ championships together.

Meanwhile, Verstappen is reportedly reflecting on his own future in F1. After the Japanese Grand Prix, he expressed concerns regarding his enjoyment in the sport, citing that new technical regulations have diminished the fun factor for him.

“Personally, I’m quite content. But can you really wait through 24 races?” Verstappen noted, adding a bit of uncertainty to his future. He mused on whether it might be more enjoyable to spend time with family and friends instead.

“It’s easy to accept being in seventh or eighth place, because I understand I can’t be on the podium every race. I’m realistic about where I stand. But, when you find yourself in positions like that and aren’t really enjoying it, that feels off for any racer,” he added.

“Sure, you try to adapt, but the current racing experience doesn’t feel right. At some point, you realize this isn’t what you signed up for,” he continued.

He acknowledged the financial perks that come with the sport but emphasized that, at its core, racing has always been about his passion.

As the focus shifts to Verstappen, notable F1 journalist Eric van Haren reported recently that Brawn is also observing his situation closely. Lambiase’s arrival at McLaren, he noted, may offer them an extra edge. Currently, Lando Norris is contracted to McLaren until the end of 2027, and Oscar Piastri until the end of 2028.

Verstappen’s existing contract with Red Bull extends to 2028.