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Gianpiero Lambiase is set to leave Red Bull to join McLaren, whose CEO Zak Brown he “disappointed” with his messages to Max Verstappen in the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix.
News broke on Thursday that Lambiase has agreed to join McLaren in the 2028 F1 season to replace Andrea Stella as the Woking outfit’s team principal. Brown targeted Red Bull head of racing Lambiase as Stella is understood to have agreed to return to Ferrari in the near future.
It is said that Lambiase has agreed to join McLaren in 2028 as Red Bull aim to hold him to his contract through 2027, before he enters a period of gardening leave. It is also said that Stella has already signed a pre-contract for Ferrari, where he had worked between 2000 and 2014.
Lambiase has been a vital figure for Red Bull since 2015, when he initially arrived as the race engineer of Daniil Kvyat before Verstappen later joined in 2016. The British-Italian engineer has since built a very close relationship with Verstappen, as the voice in his ear during races.
GP is joining McLaren! What does this mean for Verstappen and Red Bull?
The news comes from Erik van Haren of De Telegraaf
Gianpiero Lambiase’s radio messages ‘disappointed’ Zak Brown at the 2024 Austrian Grand Prix
Lambiase’s approach to managing Verstappen over the radio when the Dutch driver gets hot under the collar “disappointed” McLaren CEO Brown when the Red Bull racer battled against Lando Norris during the Austrian GP in 2024. Brown felt Red Bull showed a lack of “respect”.
READ MORE: All to know about Max Verstappen’s F1 race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase
Tension rose in Spielberg two years ago, as Verstappen crashed into Norris while fighting for the lead of the 2024 Austrian GP amid the early part of their emerging title fight. Brown felt Lambiase should have tried to calm Verstappen down, as the warning signs had been there.
Brown said, via ESPN: “Until someone tells Max that that’s against the regulations, he’s not going to know any different. So, I think there were missed opportunities for the stewards to make note.
“[I was] also disappointed that such a great team like Red Bull, that the leadership almost encourages it, because you listen on the radio and what was said.
“We all have a responsibility on [the] pit wall to tell our drivers the dos and don’ts and what is going on in the race. I think we need to have respect in the regulations.”
What did Gianpiero Lambiase tell Max Verstappen that annoyed Zak Brown?
Will Max Verstappen keep his word as Gianperio Lambiase leaves Red Bull?
Lambiase frustrated Brown with how he managed Verstappen during the 2024 Austrian GP, as the British-Italian engineer largely supported the Dutchman’s belief that Norris had been the driver making the mistakes in their battle rather than his own racer being in the wrong.
While Norris complained over McLaren’s radio that Verstappen was moving under braking, Lambiase overlooked his driver’s actions and added fuel to the four-time champion’s belief that the Briton was exceeding track limits – despite Verstappen having forced Norris wide.
Lambiase also advised Verstappen to keep his “head down”, and he noted “I’m not entirely sure how he thinks you forced him off”. Lambiase also claimed “It’s not clever” after Norris’ late but clean lunge at Turn 3 on Lap 63, to which Verstappen drove off track to stay ahead.
Eventually, Verstappen and Norris came to blows at Turn 3 on Lap 64 when the Red Bull ace again moved under braking after the McLaren driver moved to the outside. Verstappen saw Norris in his left mirror so he changed his line, which led to contact that ended Norris’ race.
Verstappen received a 10s penalty for crashing into Norris during the 2024 Austrian GP, but it had no effect on his result. The Dutchman pitting due to the damage he suffered dropped him down the order, but he still held a 16.835s lead over sixth place following the penalty.
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