Red Bull warned that Max Verstappen could ‘bicker’ with his new engineer just like Lewis Hamilton

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Max Verstappen will have to, if he stays at Red Bull, work with a new race engineer when Gianpiero Lambiase leaves for McLaren, and it could end up like Lewis Hamilton’s woes in 2025.

The Dutchman has worked with Lambiase throughout his Red Bull career, with the engineer guiding him to four consecutive titles between 2021 and 2024. The pair’s unique way of working has been hugely successful, but it is set to come to an end.

Lambiase is joining McLaren in 2028, stepping up to help team principal Andrea Stella at the top of the team. Verstappen told Lambiase to take McLaren’s offer, seeing it as a great opportunity for the Brit.

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His departure marks the latest key figure to leave Red Bull, and it has prompted speculation that the Dutchman could leave too. If Verstappen chooses to stay in Milton Keynes, he will need to work with a new race engineer.

Alex Brundle has told Red Bull to drop Lambiase in 2027, as he is no longer committed to the team and he could share information with McLaren. For Verstappen, it will be a huge culture change, and it could work out just as badly as it did for Hamilton and Riccardo Adami.

Christian Danner warns Red Bull that Max Verstappen could have the same engineer spat as Lewis Hamilton

The seven-time champion’s feud with his first Ferrari race engineer was well documented, with the pair clashing over the radio multiple times. Adami never understood Hamilton’s need for emotional support and often fed him the wrong information.

Christian Danner has warned Verstappen that he will need to establish a strong bond with his new engineer quickly, using Hamilton’s relationship with Adami as an example of how things can go horribly wrong.

“It’s a relationship that has to grow,” he said via Motorsport-Magazin. “There has to be a deep understanding between them. You saw that very clearly with Hamilton, how he, what was his name, Adami, how they were constantly talking at cross-purposes.

“They ended up bickering; one didn’t understand the other, and so on. That has to grow together and you really have to develop a very, almost intimate relationship, so that you know who you’re dealing with and have ultimate trust.

Will Max Verstappen keep his word as Gianperio Lambiase leaves Red Bull?

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“Because you’ve also got this track engineer who’s responsible for the car and is psychologically by your side the whole weekend. He’s the one who fights alongside me for my success.

“It’s true, you really do need the right person who understands what the driver wants from me, and who gets the data to back it up.

“I can understand him. But I wouldn’t put it that way, that if the person I got on well with isn’t there, then I can’t drive in Formula 1 anymore.

“I wouldn’t see it as quite that dramatic, but the Hamilton example in particular has shown that it does lead to one problem or another, and that really holds you back, and they really do need to gel, no question about it.”

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When will Lewis Hamilton get his new Ferrari race engineer?

Adami has taken on a new role with Ferrari’s junior team, leaving Hamilton needing a new race engineer for the 2026 season.

It is believed that Cedric Grosjean will succeed Adami as the Brit’s new permanent race engineer. However, due to a period of gardening leave with McLaren, Hamilton has yet to work with him.

Carlo Santi has taken the role on an interim basis for the opening three races. F1 fans loved Santi’s communication with Hamilton in Australia, proving to be a significant improvement on Adami almost immediately.

It was suggested that Grosjean would take up his role as race engineer at the Miami GP. However, it is now believed that Santi will remain with Hamilton in Miami, with it being unclear when Grosjean will start with Ferrari.