A significant setback for Max Verstappen. His long-time engineer Gianpiero Lambiase will leave Red Bull at the end of 2027 and join McLaren.
The 45-year-old engineer, who also serves as head of racing, has signed a highly lucrative deal.
De Limburger reports that McLaren has won the battle for Lambiase ahead of Aston Martin and Williams.
Sources told RacingNews365 that Lambiase has indeed accepted a very lucrative offer from McLaren, where a multi-million-pound deal is reportedly awaiting him.
With this signing, McLaren is anticipating possible changes in its own leadership structure. Team principal Andrea Stella is highly regarded in Woking, but is internally linked to a potential return to Ferrari.
The move fits into a broader pattern of McLaren systematically recruiting Red Bull personnel. Previously, chief designer Rob Marshall joined the team, and chief strategist Will Courtenay also made the switch and now serves as sporting director.
For Max Verstappen, losing Lambiase means the departure of a crucial link. The two have worked together since May 2016, when the 28-year-old was promoted to the main team. Their partnership resulted in four world titles for the Dutchman.
Red Bull has been losing key figures to competitors for years. Lambiase’s departure follows a series of other high-profile exits. In addition to earlier moves to McLaren, Adrian Newey left for Aston Martin.
Other key positions have also been vacated. Top advisor Helmut Marko and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley have also departed the team, and former team principal Christian Horner was dismissed and replaced by Laurent Mekies.
Both Red Bull and McLaren are currently declining to comment.
