Max Verstappen has publicly confirmed that he gave his full blessing for his closest lieutenant, race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, to depart Red Bull Racing for rivals McLaren. The announcement, made earlier this month, marks a significant personnel shift within Formula One, with Lambiase set to join McLaren following a period of gardening leave.
A Close Professional Bond
The pair's exceptionally close working relationship is well-documented, frequently showcased to the global audience through their candid, sometimes tense, but fundamentally respectful radio communications during Grand Prix weekends. Known affectionately as 'GP', Lambiase has been a pivotal figure alongside Verstappen throughout multiple championship-winning campaigns.
Verstappen's Supportive Stance
Speaking at an event in Amsterdam, the Dutch world champion revealed the personal dimension of the move. Verstappen disclosed that Lambiase directly approached him to discuss the substantial offer from McLaren, seeking his former driver's approval before making the career change.
'He told me what kind of offer he received. I said: "you would be stupid not to do that",' Verstappen stated, as reported by De Telegraaf. 'We have already achieved everything together and then he gets such a great offer, also with his family in mind and the security it would give him.'
Verstappen elaborated, emphasising his supportive role: 'He asked me for a sort of permission and I said that he absolutely had to do it. He really wanted to hear that from me.' This account aligns with prior reports from Daily Mail Sport, which indicated Verstappen was understanding of Lambiase's desire for a new challenge and enhanced financial stability.
Future Implications and New Role
Despite the high-profile departure, it is not anticipated to have any immediate impact on Verstappen's own future with Red Bull. The driver did not dismiss the possibility of collaborating with Lambiase again, though he hinted such a reunion might occur outside the confines of Formula One.
Lambiase, who joined Red Bull eleven years ago and developed a formidable partnership with Verstappen, is poised to assume the role of Chief Racing Officer at McLaren. He will report directly to Team Principal Andrea Stella. A McLaren statement clarified the position, noting: 'The role of the Chief Racing Officer already exists within the team’s structure, with overall leadership of the race team. These duties are currently managed by Andrea Stella in addition to his role as Team Principal.'
Strategic Hiring for McLaren
The appointment is part of a broader strategy by McLaren to bolster its technical and operational expertise. The team's statement highlighted Lambiase as 'the latest hire designed to strengthen and support the talent pool that exists at McLaren Mastercard, while also reaffirming the team’s long-term commitment to confirming its position as a Championship-winning team.'
McLaren pointed to its successful recruitment of other top talents like Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay as evidence of its strategic vision under the leadership of Zak Brown and Andrea Stella. The team confirmed it 'looks forward to welcoming Gianpiero Lambiase when his existing contract ends, no later than 2028.'
This move underscores the dynamic nature of Formula One team structures and the personal considerations that influence even the most successful professional partnerships in the sport's high-pressure environment.
