Red Bull's Gianpiero Lambiase To Join McLaren as Chief Racing Officer
Max Verstappen’s long-time race engineer signs on, deepening McLaren’s talent raid and stoking F1 paddock intrigue.
Summary
- Red Bull head of racing Gianpiero Lambiase has agreed to join McLaren as Chief Racing Officer no later than 2028
- Lambiase will report to Andrea Stella to oversee race team leadership and streamline the team’s management structure
- The move follows a series of high-profile departures from Red Bull Racing including Adrian Newey and Jonathan Wheatley
Gianpiero Lambiase, the iconic race engineer behind Max Verstappen’s dominant run, has officially inked a deal to join McLaren once his Red Bull Racing contract wraps up in 2028. Stepping into the newly minted role of Chief Racing Officer, “GP” will take over trackside operations from team principal Andrea Stella, freeing Stella to steer the broader technical and executive vision.
McLaren’s aggressive recruitment drive shows no signs of slowing down. Lambiase’s move to Woking reunites him with former Red Bull heavyweights Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay, underscoring McLaren’s ambition to stockpile top-tier paddock talent. Despite the bombshell announcement, Red Bull confirmed Lambiase will retain his dual role as head of racing and Verstappen’s right-hand man until his scheduled exit.
The shakeup hits during a seismic transitional era for Red Bull. Following the massive departures of Adrian Newey, Jonathan Wheatley, and Christian Horner, the team’s foundations are looking increasingly vulnerable. Lambiase’s exit only fuels the roaring speculation surrounding Verstappen’s future, especially given the reigning champ’s vocal frustrations over the 2026 technical regulations and rumors of an impending contract opt-out.
