Former Formula 1 driver Giedo van der Garde has ignited fresh debate about Red Bull’s future, claiming Max Verstappen will leave the team before his long-time race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase departs for McLaren. The bold prediction adds to mounting speculation that Red Bull’s grip on its four-time world champion is weakening.
The comments come just weeks after news broke that Lambiase, Verstappen’s trusted voice on the radio throughout his title-winning run, is set to join McLaren’s senior management structure from 2028. The Italian engineer has been a constant presence beside Verstappen since their partnership began, guiding him through all four of his world championships and becoming one of the most recognizable driver-engineer pairings on the grid.
Writing in his column for Formule 1 Magazine, van der Garde was asked directly who would leave Red Bull first: Verstappen or Lambiase. His answer left little room for doubt.
“I’m putting my money on Max,” van der Garde wrote. “Red Bull doesn’t have its affairs in order, and Max wants a car with which he can win races and titles. It’s that simple. I also think that Max will take the next step after this season.”
The assessment points to a deeper issue that has been building inside Red Bull. After years of dominance during the ground-effect era, the team has struggled to maintain its edge under the 2026 regulations. While there were signs of recovery in the second half of last year under team principal Laurent Mekies, progress stalled over the winter. Red Bull has since slipped further down the competitive order, leaving Verstappen fighting for minor points instead of victories.
For a driver who has built his career around winning, the current situation is untenable. Van der Garde’s view is straightforward: Verstappen’s patience has limits, and his priority is machinery capable of delivering championships. If Red Bull cannot provide that, he will look elsewhere.
Lambiase’s planned move to McLaren only sharpens the focus on Red Bull’s stability. Van der Garde made clear he sees no fault in the engineer’s decision, describing it as a natural career progression.
“First of all, it’s a wonderful opportunity for Lambiase. If you can grow into the role of team boss at a top team like McLaren, then you have to grab that chance with both hands,” he explained.
He also emphasized the loyalty that has defined Lambiase’s relationship with Verstappen and the Verstappen family. The two have built a working bond based on trust, direct communication, and shared success. That loyalty, van der Garde suggests, runs both ways. But even strong personal ties may not be enough to keep Verstappen at Red Bull if the team cannot match his ambition.
The timing of both potential departures is crucial. Lambiase is committed to McLaren from 2028, giving him at least two more seasons at Red Bull. Van der Garde believes Verstappen will not wait that long. Predicting a move “after this season” puts the spotlight on the 2027 driver market, which is already expected to be volatile as teams position themselves for the next regulation cycle.
The claim also raises questions about Red Bull’s internal structure. With key technical figures having already left in recent years and performance now declining, the team is under pressure to prove it can rebuild. Mekies has overseen improvements in organization and morale, yet the car has gone backward relative to rivals. If that trend continues, Red Bull risks losing not only its star driver but also the engineering talent around him.
For Verstappen, the decision will come down to competitiveness. At 28, he is still in his prime and has been vocal about only wanting to race if he can fight at the front. He has four titles, more than 60 wins, and little left to prove. Van der Garde’s prediction suggests Verstappen may choose to chase a new challenge rather than endure a prolonged rebuild.
For Lambiase, the McLaren role represents a step into team leadership at one of F1’s most historic outfits. It is the kind of opportunity few engineers turn down, and van der Garde’s comments frame it as a logical next step rather than a defection.
The broader impact on Red Bull could be severe. Losing Verstappen would end an era that delivered the team’s most successful period. Losing Lambiase removes a key operational link between driver and pit wall. Losing both, even if staggered by a season or two, would force a complete reset.
Van der Garde’s words carry weight because he understands the Dutch racing landscape and the dynamics inside Red Bull better than most. His prediction is not presented as gossip, but as a read on Verstappen’s mindset and Red Bull’s current trajectory.
Whether the prediction proves correct depends on what happens in the next 12 months. If Red Bull can reverse its slide and give Verstappen a winning car for 2027, the picture changes. If not, the paddock may be preparing for a bombshell even bigger than Lambiase’s McLaren switch: Max Verstappen in different colors, and sooner than anyone expected.
For now, Red Bull faces a race against time. The car needs to improve, confidence needs to return, and the team must show it has a plan. Without those things, van der Garde believes the outcome is already decided. Verstappen will be the first to walk, and Red Bull’s next era will have to begin without him.
