Sometimes they look like a bickering, old married couple: Max Verstappen and his racing engineer Gianpiero Lambiase of Red Bull Racing. The outside world usually only hears the messages they exchange over the board radio during Grands Prix, sometimes they are quite heated discussions. But should anyone think it might be that the relationship between the two is bad? No, anything but that is the case.

The pair were guests on their own team's podcast Talking Bull. There, they discussed the relationship both have with each other. "It’s only natural that after seven, eight years...," Lambiase began. Then continued, "we know each other inside and we know what triggers the other one or perhaps put the arm around the other one's shoulder so I think we know how to manage ourselves out of a difficult situation and also enjoy the better situations."

Verstappen and Lambiase had a difficult moment in their relationship

Like any good relationship, it has to grow. With Verstappen and Lambiase, too, "something" developed at some point. "I think perhaps until three years ago, 18/19/20 when the car wasn’t quite as competitive as we, the team, would’ve liked but I think especially Max because at that point, you can see his frustration coming through already because he wasn’t able to compete for the championships at that point. We had a few ups and downs I’d say in that period, the middle third/fourth/fifth year."

Listening to his race engineer like this, Verstappen suddenly responded, "a few squabbles."

Lambiase, meanwhile, spoke further: "2021 was so intense, I think we really solidified that relationship and I think the bond was cemented that year and then last year and this year has been a continuation of that, he’s my little brother!" Lambiase said, looking at Verstappen.

The latter blushed, slapping his hand on his heart. "That's right because you spend so much time together," the Dutchman responded.