Gianpiero Lambiase set to leave Red Bull for McLaren role after 2027 season

Gianpiero Lambiase stands trackside during Red Bull team radio with Verstappen.

Gianpiero Lambiase agreed to join McLaren from Red Bull at the end of his current contract in 2027. The 45-year-old British-Italian will take a senior race engineering position under team boss Andrea Stella. Multiple sources confirmed the move which Lambiase finalized after rejecting Aston Martin advances.

Lambiase paired with Max Verstappen since the driver's 2016 Red Bull debut. Verstappen won four straight championships under his engineer's trackside guidance. The Dutch star repeatedly stated he would quit F1 without Lambiase on radio.

Red Bull promoted Lambiase to head of racing last year after Jonathan Wheatley departed. He oversaw race operations while maintaining Verstappen communications. The team restructured without filling Wheatley's sporting director role.

McLaren poached several Red Bull figures recently amid constructors' title push. Lambiase's arrival bolsters engineering depth for 2028 regulations. He turned down Aston Martin's team principal offer for the McLaren opportunity.

Verstappen sits ninth in standings after podium-less start to 2026. Red Bull trails McLaren by significant margin through three races. Lambiase's exit timing coincides with driver's long-term contract discussions.

The engineer began F1 career with Jordan in 2005 working through Force India iterations. He guided Giancarlo Fisichella to Force India's first pole before Red Bull move. Lambiase earned praise for direct radio style.

Red Bull held off earlier retention efforts. McLaren confirmed no impact on Stella's leadership. Verstappen faces Bahrain Grand Prix this weekend without public comment on the switch