Will Verstappen follow Lambiase with a move to McLaren?

For ten years the duo has been inseparable: Helmut Marko and Christian Horner, both of whom have now left the Austrian Formula 1 team, repeatedly joked about Verstappen and Lambiase as a “old married couple.” They were referring to the many debates the two had over the team radio and the close bond of trust between the driver and engineer.

It is not out of the question that Verstappen will eventually move to McLaren as well, but the Dutchman will not blindly follow his loyal friend to the British F1 team. He first wants to see how the situation at Red Bull Racing develops, GPblog has understood.

After winning his first world title in 2021, Verstappen explicitly tied his own future to that of “GP.” “I told him that I only work with him. As soon as he stops, I stop too,” he said during his end-of-year interview on Ziggo Sport.

By now, however, those statements are almost five years old, and the outlook for the future may have changed. The close bond of trust is still there, but in 2024 Verstappen hinted that Lambiase might want to do something else after his contract expires.

GPblog later reported that Verstappen’s confidant was on McLaren’s radar and that the British F1 team was his first choice, although there was also considerable interest from other teams.

In principle, McLaren could have a spot available in the 2028 lineup. Reigning world champion Lando Norris’s contract runs through 2027, while Oscar Piastri’s deal reportedly runs until the end of 2028. Moreover, driver contracts typically include performance clauses, meaning an early departure for one of the drivers cannot be ruled out outright.

Even if a seat opens up for Verstappen in 2028, it is not a given that he will actually follow Lambiase. The four-time world champion is clearly unhappy with the current F1 cars and has repeatedly emphasized that he does not rule out an early retirement. In addition, as mentioned, he first wants to see how things unfold at Red Bull.