Red Bull begins shutting Gianpiero Lambiase out of key meetings ahead of McLaren move
Photo: Race Pictures
Ben Hunt is an award-winning motorsport journalist with over two decades of experience in Formula 1 and international media. As a former editor-in-chief and bestselling author, he delivers in-depth analysis and strategic insight from the highest level of the sport.
Red Bull is starting to cut Gianpiero Lambiase out of its most sensitive engineering meetings as the team wants to ensure Max Verstappen's long-time race engineer cannot take vital information with him to McLaren.
A few days ago Red Bull sent Lambiase up to the Singapore podium to collect the constructors' trophy. Now the team is quietly keeping him away from its inner circle.
Lambiase has two jobs at Red Bull. As well as engineering Verstappen, he is also head of race engineering and it is natural that as his departure gets closer, the Briton will slowly be eased out of crucial engineering meetings.
Lambiase could be at McLaren by mid-2027
Lambiase is expected to join the Woking squad in mid-2027, or, by the latest, at the start of 2028. That would end a partnership that has produced a lot of success. Lambiase has engineered Verstappen to all 73 of his grand prix wins and four world titles.
ADVERTISEMENT
The handover on the pit wall has already begun. As GPblog reported, Tom Hart will take over the radio at three races. Red Bull say Lambiase will still be present at the circuit during those weekends, carrying out his duties as Head of Racing.
Two statements, two different timelines
Red Bull and McLaren described the timeline differently from the start. When the move was announced in April, McLaren's statement said the team looked forward to welcoming Lambiase when his existing contract ends, no later than 2028.
However, Red Bull was firm that he would remain in his current roles "in 2028" until his contract expires, and argued that this discrepancy points to inevitable negotiations regarding a gardening leave period.
The Courtenay precedent
ADVERTISEMENT
Red Bull has been through this with McLaren before. After McLaren signed head of strategy Will Courtenay in 2024, Red Bull refused to release him from his contract that expired in 2026 and insisted on him serving a gardening leave.
Courtenay continued in his role at the head of the Red Bull strategy team during the 2025 Formula 1 season. In the end, he was able to expedite his departure and he started at McLaren ahead of 2026, earlier than the mid-2026 date Red Bull had originally planned.
It's clear that Red Bull is willing to keep a departing figure working for as long as it suits the team, but an early release can still be negotiated. Restricting what Lambiase can see now protects Red Bull whichever date is finally agreed with McLaren.
Don’t miss GPblog in Google
Mark us as a preferred source and our articles will appear more often at the top of Top Stories.
Add as a preferred / source on Google
