Gianpiero Lambiase, Max Verstappen’s long-serving race engineer, is set to join McLaren by 2028, but there is disagreement between the teams about what job he will hold when he moves.
Red Bull announced Lambiase’s departure last month, confirming he will leave his role as head of race engineering and Verstappen’s engineer to take a position at McLaren no later than 2028. McLaren described the appointment as chief racing officer, a role they say already exists and whose responsibilities are currently handled by team principal Andrea Stella alongside his other duties.
Speaking at the Miami Grand Prix, Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies suggested McLaren plan to make Lambiase their team principal. Mekies called Lambiase’s opportunity ‘extraordinary’ and said he could only wish him well. Red Bull later confirmed Mekies was referring to Lambiase becoming McLaren team principal, which prompted fresh speculation about Stella’s future.
Andrea Stella, who joined McLaren from Ferrari in 2015 and became team principal in 2023, is on a long-term contract and has repeatedly dismissed rumours linking him with a move away from Woking. Stella has publicly shrugged off salary and pre-contract gossip, saying such stories make him smile and comparing them to an envious ‘pastry chef’ spoiling a dessert — a comment underlining his confidence in McLaren’s direction.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown pushed back on Mekies’ suggestion. Brown said he has ‘one team principal’ and described Stella as the best in the pit lane, adding that he couldn’t be happier with him. Brown and Mekies spoke at the Miami race about the remarks and both said they preferred not to turn the issue into a back-and-forth.
Regardless of the differing descriptions of Lambiase’s future title, both teams must agree on the timing of his exit. Red Bull say Lambiase is contracted through the end of 2027 and will fulfil that agreement, while McLaren remain in talks to finalise his move.
Lambiase’s departure is significant for Verstappen. The pair enjoy a close working relationship that Verstappen described as rare, and replacing him will be a priority for Red Bull. Mekies acknowledged Red Bull have lost key staff in recent years and said retaining, developing and attracting top talent is now one of the team’s highest priorities. He pointed to existing senior figures, including Ben Hodgkinson on power units and Pierre Wache on chassis, as part of a strong leadership group.
With two years until Lambiase’s contract ends, Red Bull say they have time to plan a replacement. Meanwhile, McLaren’s plans — whether to install Lambiase as chief racing officer or as team principal — remain the subject of public debate until both sides clarify the role and the timing of any handover.
Formula 1 now moves on to the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal, a Sprint weekend where the team dynamics and personnel stories, including the Lambiase move, will continue to be watched closely.