What Does Gianpiero Lambiase's Move to McLaren Mean for Max Verstappen?
Race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase is leaving Red Bull for McLaren to advance his career as Head of Race Engineering. This move is driven by Lambiase's ambitions and is not directly linked to Max Verstappen's future plans.
What does Gianpiero Lambiase's move to McLaren mean for Max Verstappen? The high-profile announcement of Max Verstappen's long-time race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase moving from Red Bull to McLaren was immediately linked by many to a possible departure of Verstappen himself. However, Mark Hughes explains in his article for The Race that this step primarily concerns Lambiase himself. Gianpiero, now 46 years old, still seeks career development. Although he made a name for himself by winning 4 titles and dozens of victories with Max, he does not want to remain forever just an accessory to Verstappen. At McLaren, he will take the position of Head of Race Engineering, effectively becoming deputy to team principal Andrea Stella and a potential successor. Experts believe that 2028 is only the starting point for negotiations. It is possible the teams will agree on an early release, allowing Lambiase to take his new role much sooner. Regarding Max, his decision about whether to continue his F1 career will not depend solely on the engineer. Nevertheless, losing a key team member is another significant setback for Red Bull. The move was initiated by Lambiase himself, who received a brilliant opportunity for a career leap. Therefore, it is mistaken to assume this transfer is directly dictated by Max's future plans.
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