London
In a major shake-up for Formula One, Red Bull has confirmed that Gianpiero “GP” Lambiase, the longtime race engineer for Max Verstappen, will leave the team in 2028. Lambiase is set to join McLaren, the reigning champions, where he will serve as the Chief Racing Officer under team principal Andrea Stella.
The news marks a significant shift for the sport’s most famous partnership. Since 2016, Lambiase and Verstappen have won four world championships together. Their blunt, often humorous radio exchanges—once described by former boss Christian Horner as “an old married couple arguing”—have become a staple of race weekends. Lambiase’s move follows other key departures from Red Bull, including star designer Adrian Newey and sporting director Will Courtenay.
For Verstappen, the news adds to an uncertain future. The Dutch driver is also contracted through 2028, but he has recently expressed frustration with F1’s new engine rules and his own desire to remain in the sport long-term. In the past, Verstappen even claimed he would quit racing if Lambiase ever stopped being his engineer.
While the two will remain together for now, Red Bull faces the difficult task of maintaining their winning form as their top talent migrates to rivals. McLaren, meanwhile, continues to strengthen its “dream team” of experts as they look to defend their titles against a struggling Red Bull squad. Fans will be watching closely to see if this exit signals the end of Verstappen’s historic era.
