Max Verstappen opens up on key Lambiase conversation before McLaren move
Max Verstappen has disclosed a crucial moment involving his long-time race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, revealing the single question that came up before the Italian accepted a future role with McLaren. The announcement confirmed that Lambiase will transition into a senior leadership position with the team no later than 2028.
Lambiase has been a cornerstone of Red Bull Racing since 2015, initially working with Daniil Kvyat before forming a highly effective partnership with Verstappen from 2016 onward. Over time, his responsibilities expanded significantly, especially after stepping into a Head of Racing role in 2024 while still serving as Verstappen’s trusted voice on the radio.
Their collaboration became one of the most successful engineer-driver pairings in modern Formula 1, playing a major role in Verstappen securing four consecutive world titles between 2021 and 2024. The Dutch driver had previously hinted at how vital Lambiase was to him, even suggesting years ago that his own future could be impacted if his engineer ever departed.
Following the Japanese Grand Prix, Verstappen admitted he has been reflecting on his long-term future in the sport, particularly with sweeping regulation changes arriving in 2026. Amid that backdrop, he revealed that Lambiase approached him personally to discuss the McLaren opportunity before making a final decision.
According to Verstappen, Lambiase presented the offer and sought his perspective. The response was immediate and supportive—Verstappen encouraged him to accept, recognizing both the professional opportunity and the benefits it would bring to his family. Even Verstappen’s father, Jos Verstappen, confirmed the family had long been aware of the move and fully backed the decision, viewing it as a well-earned next step.
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