Max Verstappen’s race engineer Giampiero Lambiase is set to make a surprise move to McLaren by 2028, but there appears to be disagreement over his role.
Red Bull announced last month that Lambiase would leave his role as head of race engineering and Verstappen’s engineer to join McLaren, saying he would become chief racing officer “by 2028 at the latest.”
McLaren explained in its announcement that the role of chief racing officer already exists within the organization, and that the role is currently held by Andrea Stella in addition to his responsibilities as team principal.
However, regarding Lambiase’s departure at the Miami Grand Prix, Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies told Sky Sports F1 that the current employee would “become team principal” at McLaren.
In response to a question recently about Lambius becoming the latest major figure to leave Red Bull, Mekies said: “I don’t want to get defensive about it. We’ve lost quite a few key figures in the last four or five years, that’s very true.”
“We take this issue very seriously and everything we do is committed to ensuring the best environment to attract, develop and retain employees. I am confident this is an area where we will be successful.”
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Former F1 academy champion Abi Pring thinks losing Red Bull race engineer Giampiero Lambiase will be tough for Max Verstappen
“Is it going to be a linear progression without anyone quitting? No. GP (Lambias) had a special opportunity. As you know, he will be team principal there. There is nothing I can do but wish him well.”
Amid initial doubts that Mequise’s comments had been misinterpreted, Red Bull confirmed to Sky Sports F1 that the Frenchman believed Lambiase would become McLaren team principal.
Is Stella’s future really in doubt?
Stella joined McLaren from Ferrari in 2015 as head of race operations and was appointed team principal in 2023 following the Woking-based team’s upward trajectory over the past three years.
The 55-year-old is on a long-term contract with McLaren and denied speculation he would leave the team for Ferrari, amid speculation he could be tempted to return to his home country or former employer earlier this year.
Stella told McLaren’s website in April: “To be honest, some of the recent rumors have made me laugh, including the astronomical salaries and the mythical pre-contract rumors.”
“It seems like the “silly season,” which usually starts before summer, has already arrived! I’m already used to this kind of thing, and I accept it with a smile.
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Karun Chandhok discusses whether Max Verstappen could leave Red Bull in the near future after race engineer Giampiero Lambiase announced his departure from the team
“It’s as if an envious pastry chef tried to ruin McLaren Patisserie’s delicious dessert preparations. But we know better than to tell the difference between a poisoned biscuit and a delicious ingredient…”
However, Mequise’s comments have raised new questions about Stella’s future as McLaren team principal.
If the Frenchman’s belief that Lambius will become McLaren team principal is correct, then Stella has plans to either change his role or leave Woking.
“I’m not going to play table tennis.”
Sky Sports F1 referred Mekies’ comments to Stella’s boss, McLaren chief executive Zac Brown, and the American maintained the team’s negative attitude towards the suggestion of a change at the top.
“Apparently he (Mekies) knows something that I don’t know,” Brown said.
“I have players (team principal) and I have some great players. I’ve got the best player in the pit lane in Andrea Stella. I couldn’t be happier (with) Andrea.”
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Zac Brown has denied Red Bull’s Laurent Mequise’s claims that race engineer Giampiero Lambiase will leave Red Bull to become McLaren team principal.
On race day at the Miami Grand Prix, Brown was seen entering Red Bull Hospitality to speak to Mekies, who confirmed the pair had discussed his comments about Lambius.
“I talk a lot with Zach and other colleagues,” he said.
“But certainly, none of us wanted to play ping-pong about it, and as usual, we talked it over a lot and moved on.”
Even ignoring the obvious disagreement between Red Bull and McLaren over Lambiase’s future position, both teams would need to agree if Verstappen’s engineer were to leave.
Red Bull insist Lambiase will fulfill his contract until the end of 2027, and McLaren are continuing to negotiate a deal with him.
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Red Bull’s Max Verstappen admits it is unusual to have such a relationship with outgoing race engineer Giampiero Lambiase
And while Red Bull themselves are looking for a replacement for Lambiase, this will be especially important for Verstappen, who has a brotherly relationship with Lambiase.
“We (me and Lambiase) have a general understanding of each other and the chemistry works very well,” said the four-time world champion.
“That’s very rare in racing. You don’t often see drivers and engineers bonding so well. That’s something I have to try again and find out. It’s not easy, but of course sometimes it happens.”
Mekies added: “We’ll have to think about GP replacement for a few years. As I’ve said many times, I don’t want to defend the fact that we’ve lost talent, but it’s a fact. And it’s been going on for three or four years.”
“As a result, ensuring we create an environment that retains, develops and attracts the best talent is a top priority for our team.
“Department by division, we feel we already have the best people, and that starts with Ben (Hodgkinson) on the power unit side of the team and Pierre (Wacher) on the chassis side and his team.”
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