Max Verstappen tipped for Red Bull departure as longtime engineer GianPiero Lambiase joins McLaren

Riccardo Patrese claims Max Verstappen is set to leave Red Bull following his race engineer's move to McLaren. Will the 4-time champ retire or join Mercedes?

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 28, 2026, 12:10 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from PlanetF1

The End of a Formidable Partnership

The announcement that GianPiero Lambiase, known as "GP," will transition to McLaren has sent shockwaves through the paddock, signaling the potential end of the most successful driver-engineer duo of the last decade. Lambiase and Max Verstappen have worked in tandem since Verstappen’s 2016 debut with Red Bull, a partnership that yielded 61 Grand Prix victories and four consecutive world championships between 2021 and 2024. Lambiase had previously hinted that he would seek a new challenge once his collaboration with Verstappen concluded. With the 45-year-old engineer now confirmed for a move to Woking, analysts suggest the "social contract" that kept Verstappen anchored to Red Bull may be dissolving.

Patrese Foresees a 2027 Roster Shake-up

Riccardo Patrese believes Lambiase’s exit is a clear harbinger of Verstappen’s own departure. Speaking to a leading sports outlet, Patrese argued that Verstappen is "not feeling very happy" in the current Red Bull environment, particularly as the team struggles to adapt to the 2026 technical regulations. Patrese suggested that the loss of his most trusted technical confidant could be the final catalyst for Verstappen to make a move at the end of the current season. According to Patrese, Verstappen’s loyalty to the team is intrinsically tied to the personnel who helped him achieve his "best in the world" status, and with that structure crumbling, a change of scenery or category is increasingly likely.

Frustrations with the 2026 Power Unit Philosophy

A significant driver of Verstappen’s discontent appears to be the nature of the 2026 engine regulations. The four-time world champion has been vocal about his distaste for the mandatory "lift-and-coast" harvesting and automated power deployment, which he feels robs the driver of agency. Patrese echoed these sentiments, noting that the current cars operate in a way that is "totally against the philosophy of a racing driver." Verstappen’s public interest in GT3 racing and his participation in the 24 Hours Nürburgring are viewed as evidence that he is seeking the pure "pleasure of driving" that he currently finds lacking in the highly electronic, management-heavy environment of modern Formula 1.