Red Bull faces another high-profile departure: Max Verstappen’s race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase is reportedly in talks with a rival team.
Another key figure is set to leave the Red Bull Formula 1 team. According to international media reports, Gianpiero Lambiase is not expected to continue his role with the Austrian-British racing team. This marks the end of a partnership that has contributed significantly to Max Verstappen’s success and four world championship titles in the current ground effect era.
The 45-year-old Briton, who also has Italian citizenship, will therefore no longer be working as a race engineer alongside the Dutchman next year. The reason for the split is apparently Lambiase’s desire for a change in his workload.
He had asked Red Bull management to reduce his travel commitments for personal reasons. These circumstances had already affected his presence at the racetrack during the past season: he missed the Austrian and Belgian Grands Prix, where he was temporarily replaced by Simon Rennie.
Tug of war between Williams and Aston Martin
The engineer’s future has not yet been officially clarified. While The Race linked him with a move to Aston Martin, the Italian edition of Motorsport.com has information that Lambiase is in negotiations with Williams.
Before Christmas, Radiobox had already spotted Lambiase in the immediate vicinity of the Grove-based racing team. However, as no agreement has been announced yet, the race to sign him appears to be still open. The project at Williams, which aims to bring the traditional team back to the top of Formula 1, is said to be very attractive to Lambiase.
Management role at Aston Martin?
However, Aston Martin is countering with a lucrative offer. The Silverstone-based team is rumored to have offered Lambiase a position in management. Such a role would offer the advantage that he would no longer have to be on site for all races of the season, which would accommodate his desire to travel less.
At Aston Martin, Lambiase would be reunited with his long-time colleague Adrian Newey, who was recently appointed team principal of the British racing team. A reunion with Lambiase would be attractive to Newey. The star designer greatly values the engineer’s skills and would welcome a renewed collaboration after their time together in Milton Keynes ended with Newey’s departure.
Possible harbinger for the 2027 driver market
Observers also see a strategic component in Aston Martin’s courtship. The signing of Lambiase could be seen as an attempt to build a bridge to Verstappen should he consider a team change.
Although Oliver Mintzlaff, Red Bull’s sporting director, emphasizes that the star will remain with the team, speculation about a change of scenery for the four-time world champion continues. Especially since the Dutchman could now lose a second important figure at Red Bull with Lambiase’s departure, following Helmut Marko’s retirement.
If, on the other hand, Lambiase decides to join Williams, this is likely to be seen as a sign that the move was purely based on professional considerations and has no direct connection to Verstappen’s future.
