Another blow has hit the Red Bull Racing camp, raising fresh questions about Max Verstappen's future in Formula 1, indirectly. Reports suggest that Verstappen's race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, has signed a deal with McLaren and is set to join the team in 2028, once his current contract with Red Bull expires in 2027. After months of speculation linking him to multiple teams late in the 2025 season, including Aston Martin, the move now appears confirmed.
Lambiase has been a huge supportive figure in Verstappen's career since 2016, guiding the Dutch driver to four world championships. Often described as Verstappen's "right-hand man," his departure could mark the end of one of Formula 1's most successful driver-engineer partnerships.
This development adds to a growing list of high-profile exits from Red Bull. Legendary designer Adrian Newey has already moved on to Aston Martin, while senior figures like Jonathan Wheatley and Helmut Marko have also stepped away. In mid-2025, long-time team principal Christian Horner was replaced by Laurent Mekies.
The instability comes at a difficult time for Verstappen, who is enduring one of the toughest seasons of his career in the 2026 championship. Currently sitting ninth in the standings with just 12 points, the Dutchman has openly expressed frustration with the new era of regulations and his lack of enjoyment behind the wheel.
Following a difficult Japanese Grand Prix weekend, where he was disqualified in Q2 and finished eighth, Verstappen admitted, "I want to be here to have fun and enjoy myself. At the moment, that's not really the case. I enjoy working with my team-it feels like a second family-but once I'm in the car, it's not the most enjoyable.'
I'm trying every day to enjoy it, but it's very hard,' Verstappen said raising concerns among fans regarding his retirement from the sport.
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The Lambiase news is particularly important in this given Verstappen's past comments. In 2021, he told Ziggo Sport, "I have said to him that I only work with him. As soon as he stops, I stop too."
The feeling appears mutual, with Lambiase also previously indicating his preference to work only with Verstappen. With Red Bull facing internal upheaval and Verstappen struggling on track, this latest development could have major implications for the future of the four-time world champion.
Is this the beginning of the end of Verstappen's Red Bull era, or even his Formula 1 career? That's the big question right now.