Gianpiero Lambiase Agrees to Terms for McLaren Move as Red Bull Hierarchy Continues to Fracture

Max Verstappen’s race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase is set for a landmark move to McLaren, marking a major departure for Red Bull’s senior leadership.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 9, 2026, 8:52 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from PlanetF1

Verstappen’s Closest Ally Orchestrates Future Exit

The partnership that defined a dominant era in Formula 1 is approaching its final chapters following reports that Gianpiero Lambiase has reached an agreement to join McLaren. Lambiase, who has served as Max Verstappen’s race engineer since the Dutchman’s promotion to Red Bull in 2016, is a cornerstone of the team’s trackside operations. While the move is not expected to take place immediately due to existing contractual obligations that run until 2028, the decision marks a seismic shift for the Milton Keynes squad. Lambiase’s exit represents the loss of the "brotherly bond" that Verstappen previously claimed was essential to his continued participation in the sport, though current indications suggest the driver's immediate future remains independent of this specific personnel change.

McLaren Strengthens Leadership with Red Bull Expertise

At McLaren, Lambiase is expected to take on a senior operational role, further bolstering a leadership structure that has already successfully integrated former Red Bull stalwarts Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay. While initial reports suggested Lambiase might replace Andrea Stella as Team Principal, sources close to the Woking-based team indicate that Stella’s position remains secure. Instead, Lambiase is likely to serve in a deputy or supporting capacity, mirroring the organizational models seen at Ferrari and Mercedes. This strategic acquisition is part of McLaren’s broader effort to distribute the operational workload across a wider pool of elite talent as they challenge for the 2026 World Championship.

Ongoing Exodus Signals Cultural Shift at Milton Keynes

Lambiase’s pending departure is the latest in a series of exits following a period of internal turmoil at Red Bull. Earlier this week, veteran front-end mechanic Ole Schack announced his intention to leave the team after 20 years, explicitly citing a change in the team's internal atmosphere as a primary motivator. This cultural shift gained momentum following the dismissal of long-time team principal Christian Horner in the summer of 2025 and the subsequent takeover of operational control by Austrian shareholders. The loss of senior administrative staff in marketing and human resources further underscores a period of transition as the influence of the Dietrich Mateschitz era continues to fade.