Zak Brown Optimistic McLaren Can Secure Gianpiero Lambiase Sooner
- Gianpiero Lambiase will depart Red Bull Racing in 2028 to join McLaren Racing as Chief Racing Officer, reporting directly to team principal Andrea Stella, reported.
- Red Bull has leaned toward keeping Lambiase on the sidelines until 2028, but McLaren aims to accelerate that schedule.
- Verstappen endorsed the career move when Lambiase consulted him earlier this year regarding the McLaren proposal.
Gianpiero Lambiase will depart Red Bull Racing in 2028 to join McLaren Racing as Chief Racing Officer, reporting directly to team principal Andrea Stella, reported. While Red Bull initially targeted a 2028 arrival, McLaren CEO Zak Brown stated an optimistic timeline to secure the engineer sooner.
McLaren Seeks Earlier Arrival Than Red Bull Timeline
Red Bull has leaned toward keeping Lambiase on the sidelines until 2028, but McLaren aims to accelerate that schedule. Zak Brown expressed optimism about seeing Lambiase wearing papaya orange during the 2027 season. McLaren previously negotiated an early release for former Red Bull strategist Will Courtenay through direct team talks, giving the Woking-based outfit a precedent for cutting down wait times.
Verstappen Grants Immediate Approval For Departure
Verstappen endorsed the career move when Lambiase consulted him earlier this year regarding the McLaren proposal. Verstappen described the offer as an opportunity his longtime engineer and confidant could not refuse, noting the professional security it provides for Lambiase and his family. He asked me as it were for my approval, and I told him that he absolutely had to go for it,
Verstappen said during a Viaplay event.
Red Bull Prepares For Immediate Race Weekend Absences
The restructuring at Milton Keynes begins before Lambiase officially changes teams. reported that Lambiase will miss upcoming grands prix in Austin, São Paulo, and Las Vegas. During those weekends, Verstappen will work alongside Tom Hart, who spent several seasons operating as a performance engineer for the Dutch driver. The temporary sideline duties precede Lambiase’s eventual relocation to the McLaren Technology Centre, where he will oversee wider racing operations under Stella as part of McLaren’s multi-series expansion spanning Formula 1, IndyCar, and the World Endurance Championship.