Jos Verstappen has spoken out following the confirmation that Gianpiero Lambiase will leave Red Bull Racing, issuing a clear message about the importance of finding the right replacement.
It was revealed earlier this week that Lambiase, who has been a central figure in Max Verstappen’s success, will depart Red Bull at the end of his current contract in 2028. Shortly after the news broke, McLaren confirmed that the experienced engineer will join them as their new chief racing officer. In this senior role, Lambiase will work closely with team principal Andrea Stella as part of a revamped leadership structure at McLaren.
Lambiase’s exit will mark the end of a long and highly successful stint with Red Bull, where he has been involved since 2015. Most notably, he has served as Verstappen’s race engineer since the Dutch driver joined the team in 2016. Over the years, the pair have developed a strong working relationship that has played a crucial role in Verstappen’s rise to the top of Formula 1, including multiple world championships.
Despite their close bond, their communication over team radio has often been intense and direct, with Verstappen known for expressing his frustrations during races. However, this dynamic has been widely viewed as part of what makes their partnership so effective, combining honesty, trust, and high performance under pressure.
Speaking about the situation, Jos Verstappen revealed that the Verstappen camp had been aware of Lambiase’s planned departure for some time. According to him, both he and his son understood the engineer’s decision to pursue a new challenge, especially given the scale of the opportunity awaiting him at McLaren. He emphasized that there are still up to two years remaining for Lambiase and Max to continue working together at Red Bull, allowing them to maintain continuity in the short term.
At the same time, Jos made it clear that the responsibility now lies with Red Bull to ensure they secure a capable successor. His comments underline the importance of the race engineer role, particularly for a driver like Max Verstappen, whose success has been closely tied to the consistency and quality of his working relationships within the team.
Lambiase’s journey in Formula 1 stretches back well before his Red Bull tenure. He previously spent over a decade with the Silverstone-based team that competed under various names, including Force India. During that period, he worked with drivers such as Vitantonio Liuzzi, Paul di Resta, and Sergio Pérez, building a strong reputation within the paddock.
He joined Red Bull in 2015, initially working with Daniil Kvyat, before becoming Verstappen’s race engineer a year later. In 2024, he was promoted to head of racing, marking the most senior role of his career at the time. His upcoming move to McLaren represents another step forward, placing him in an even more influential leadership position within the sport.
As Red Bull look ahead to life after Lambiase, the focus will now shift to identifying someone capable of maintaining the high standards that have helped define one of Formula 1’s most successful driver-engineer partnerships.
