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Max Verstappen backs race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase’s move to McLaren, even as Red Bull faces a growing exodus and uncertainty in F1’s new era.
Max Verstappen with Gianpiero Lambiase (AFP)
Breakups sting. But not this one, at least on the surface.
Max Verstappen has thrown his full support behind long-time race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, who is set to leave Red Bull Racing for McLaren in 2027.
Lambiase, better known as “GP” on team radio, has been Verstappen’s right-hand man through multiple world titles — four consecutive titles, to be precise.
So when news broke of his impending departure, it felt like the end of an era.
“You Would Be Stupid Not To”
But Verstappen’s response? Surprisingly selfless.
“He told me what kind of offer he received… I said: ‘You would be stupid not to do that,’” Verstappen revealed at a Viaplay event in Amsterdam.
“We have already achieved everything together. And then he gets such a great offer, also with his family in mind and the security it would give him.
“He asked me for a sort of permission, and I said that he absolutely had to do it. He really wanted to hear that from me.”
Verstappen’s comments come after his father, Jos, revealed that he and his son knew in advance about GP’s switch to the Papaya team.
A Growing Red Bull Exodus
Lambiase isn’t the only big name heading for the exit. Red Bull has already lost top figures like Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley, while McLaren continues to snap up key talent, including Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay.
For Verstappen, it’s another shift in a team that once looked untouchable.
Uncertainty Around Verstappen Too
And while he’s publicly supportive, questions remain about Verstappen’s own future. Despite being contracted until 2028, the Dutchman has been openly critical of Formula 1’s new regulations — famously likening the racing to “Mario Kart.”
With key meetings involving Stefano Domenicali and the FIA set to address these concerns ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, the sport finds itself at a crossroads.
April 18, 2026, 08:23 IST
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