Who is Max Verstappen’s race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase amid Red Bull exit news

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Gianpiero Lambiase has served as Max Verstappen’s race engineer for almost a decade, becoming synonymous with the Dutchman’s era of dominance.

Lambiase has spent two decades in Formula 1, working with several drivers, including Sergio Perez, Daniil Kvyat and Giancarlo Fisichella, although none have come close to the relationship he has with Verstappen.

Former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner once described the pair as “like an old married couple” in an interview with Autosport, before adding: “but there’s a real respect and trust and a relationship between the two of them.”

After Jonathan Wheatley announced his departure from Red Bull at the end of 2024, Lambiase was promoted to the team’s head of racing for 2025 alongside his role as Verstappen’s race engineer.

Despite the promotion at the start of the last season, Lambiase is now tipped with a move to Aston Martin after appearing upset after the 2025 finale in Abu Dhabi. The Formula 1 veteran was seen slumped over his desk on the Red Bull pit wall after Verstappen failed to retain the title by just two points.

Following the race, the four-time world champion told F1.com: “I’m just very proud to be able to work with someone that good. A proper example of someone that never gave up this season, even through the difficult times.”

There has been growing speculation since 2025 that Lambiase would leave Red Bull, with De Telegraaf confirming in April that the iconic race engineer will step down from his role at the end of 2027. Further reports suggest he is set to join McLaren the following year.

GP is joining McLaren! What does this mean for Verstappen and Red Bull?

The news comes from Erik van Haren of De Telegraaf

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Where was Gianpiero Lambiase born and what is his nationality?

Lambiase was born in Bedford, England, on 14 October 1980. Despite being born on the outskirts of London, the F1 engineer has Italian parents, so he holds dual nationality.

After graduating from University College London in 2002 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Lambiase joined Jordan Grand Prix in 2005 as a data engineer, although the role is more commonly known now as a performance engineer.

Lambiase stayed with the Silverstone-based squad for 11 years, through its many iterations, including Midland, Spyker and Force India. It took him just five years to become a race engineer, working with several drivers before becoming Sergio Perez’s right-hand man in 2014.

The Mexican had just made his debut for Force India at the beginning of the season, before taking the team’s first podium since 2009, when he finished third at the Bahrain Grand Prix. After a strong season for Perez, which saw his joint-best championship finish of tenth, Lambiase revealed he was moving to Red Bull.

How Sebastian Vettel secured Gianpiero Lambiase’s Red Bull future

In his 2023 interview with Autosport, Christian Horner revealed that it was actually Sebastian Vettel who sealed Lambiase’s fate with Red Bull.

The four-time world champion interviewed Lambiase to replace his previous race engineer, Guillaume Rocquelin, who was being promoted to head of race engineering. Horner revealed that the British Italian went through a “gruelling process” which also included a lengthy interview by Vettel himself.

Shortly after Lambiase agreed to join Red Bull Racing as Vettel’s race engineer, however, plans were quickly changed when the German driver announced he would be moving to Ferrari in 2015.

Lambiase was then partnered with the incoming Daniil Kvyat, who was promoted from the sister team, Toro Rosso, to Red Bull. The race engineer continued in his role when Kvyat was later demoted back down and replaced by Max Verstappen, who had been demonstrating his clear skill at the sister team.

In 2022, Lambiase was promoted to head of race engineering to replace Rocquelin, although he continued his previous role with Verstappen, even when he was promoted further to head of racing in 2024.

How long has Gianpiero Lambiase been Max Verstappen’s race engineer?

Lambiase has worked alongside Verstappen since the Dutchman joined Red Bull in 2016. The young driver was promoted up from Toro Rosso to the main team after just four races, following Kvyat’s disappointing start to the season.

The pairing quickly became one of Formula 1’s most iconic driver and race engineer pairings, with the duo securing four championships together.

Like any partnership, Verstappen and Lambiase’s relationship has faced speculation following heated exchanges on the Dutchman’s radio. In 2023, Verstappen had reiterated to F1.com that the pair “always get on well” after the driver had snapped at his race engineer numerous times during the United States Grand Prix.

Previously, the Dutchman had joked that their relationship was “more like a marriage” than brotherly, telling RacingNews365.com: “sometimes [we’re] screaming and shouting a little bit at each other, [but] it’s good.”

Verstappen has had a record-breaking Formula 1 career at Red Bull Racing while being engineered by Lambiase, including taking the most wins in one season when he stood on the top step of the podium 21 times in 2023.