- Max Verstappen's esteemed F1 race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, will leave Red Bull to join McLaren as Chief Racing Officer in 2028.
- Lambiase, who has worked with Verstappen since 2016, has a contract with Red Bull until the end of 2027.
- This move casts significant doubt on Verstappen's future with Red Bull, as Lambiase is considered one of his key allies in the sport.
- Four-time champion Verstappen has recently voiced dissatisfaction with F1's new cars and regulations, describing the 2026 cars as “anti-racing” and has previously mooted retiring from the sport.
- Lambiase is the latest in a series of high-profile departures from Red Bull, following figures like Rob Marshall, Will Courtenay, and Adrian Newey.
IN FULL