Verstappen's new right-hand man gets Red Bull backing after Austin baptism of fire

Hart took over race engineering duties for Verstappen in Austin, with Lambiase continuing his responsibilities as Red Bull's Head of Racing. The change came during a challenging weekend for the team, culminating in a third-place finish for the Dutchman behind Kimi Antonelli and Charles Leclerc.

Verstappen struggled with his car's balance, tyre performance and strategy throughout the Grand Prix, leaving Hart to manage communication with an increasingly frustrated driver during his first race in the role.

Speaking to the media after the race, Mekies acknowledged the challenges Hart faced during his debut, particularly with Red Bull struggling for pace and experiencing communication difficulties throughout the Grand Prix. Drawing on his own experience as a race engineer, the Frenchman insisted that Hart had handled the demanding circumstances impressively.

Mekies also highlighted the support provided by Gianpiero Lambiase behind the scenes, while acknowledging that Hart would need time to establish the same level of understanding with Verstappen. He confirmed that the two engineers would continue alternating duties until the end of the season, stressing that the arrangement was planned in advance rather than being a response to Hart's debut.

Hart's first race alongside Verstappen was not without complications. Several radio exchanges revealed moments of confusion as Red Bull attempted to manage the Dutchman's strategy and recover positions during the Grand Prix.

Following Verstappen's second pit stop, Hart initially identified the driver ahead as George Russell before correcting himself and confirming that it was Lando Norris, who was running on hard tyres that were already 18 laps old.

Another misunderstanding followed two laps later when Hart instructed Verstappen to select an engine setting that the four-time world champion was already using.

Hart: "Engine 3 position 11."

Verstappen: "I am in engine 3 position 11."

Communication difficulties made matters worse, with Verstappen repeatedly reporting that he could not hear his engineer clearly. When Hart asked whether he wanted a front wing adjustment, the Dutchman was unable to provide an answer.

"I have literally no idea," Verstappen replied.

The problems came as Red Bull's strategy attracted criticism from Verstappen, who questioned the decision to use two sets of soft tyres before switching to mediums. The Dutchman believed the team had departed from its original plan, while the harder compounds ultimately performed better than expected in Austin.

Verstappen's race was further complicated by damage sustained after hitting debris around lap eight, which affected the RB22's balance and increased tyre degradation. He eventually finished third, having lost second place to Leclerc during the closing stages.

Hart's appearance in Austin was the first of three planned race weekends as Verstappen's race engineer before the end of the season. Lambiase will return to his usual position for the Mexican Grand Prix, with Hart scheduled to take over again in Brazil and Las Vegas.

Should the remaining Middle Eastern races take place as planned, Lambiase is expected to finish the season alongside Verstappen before leaving Red Bull to become McLaren's Chief Racing Officer.

Hart has already spent several years working closely with Verstappen. He joined Red Bull as an intern in the race engineering department in July 2012 and has served as the Dutchman's performance engineer since early 2020.