News Summary
- De Telegraaf reports that McLaren and Red Bull are negotiating an early release for Gianpiero Lambiase, whose move is currently scheduled for 2028.
- Lambiase will remain with Red Bull at least until the end of the 2026 season, but Tom Hart will engineer Max Verstappen for the full Austin, São Paulo and Las Vegas weekends.
- Hart has already been chosen as Lambiase’s long-term replacement, with Red Bull gradually preparing for the end of one of F1’s most successful driver-engineer partnerships.
McLaren is negotiating with Red Bull over the possibility of bringing Gianpiero Lambiase to Woking earlier than planned, according to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, as the transition around Max Verstappen’s engineering team begins to accelerate.
Lambiase’s departure is already official. McLaren announced in April that Verstappen’s long-time race engineer will become its Chief Racing Officer, reporting to team principal Andrea Stella. Under the existing arrangement, he is due to leave Red Bull when his contract expires at the end of 2027 and join McLaren in 2028.
The new information from De Telegraaf, however, is that McLaren is now discussing an agreement with Red Bull that could bring that date forward. Lambiase is expected to remain at Milton Keynes at least until the end of the current season, but Red Bull is already increasing Tom Hart’s responsibilities alongside Verstappen.
Hart is scheduled to act as Verstappen’s race engineer for three complete Grand Prix weekends in 2026: Austin, São Paulo and Las Vegas. The arrangement gives Red Bull an opportunity to test the partnership in full race-weekend conditions while Lambiase remains part of the organisation.
That is a significant step beyond occasional Friday running. It also suggests Red Bull is preparing for Lambiase’s eventual departure well before his contractual exit, regardless of whether McLaren succeeds in negotiating an earlier start date.
Hart’s position as the heir to Lambiase is already established. Red Bull confirmed in July that the British engineer would become Verstappen’s next race engineer, having convinced him to remain with the team despite an expected move to Williams, where he had been lined up to work with Alexander Albon.
The transition carries particular significance because Lambiase has worked with Verstappen since the Dutchman’s promotion to Red Bull in 2016. Their partnership has spanned Verstappen’s championship-winning years and developed into one of the most recognisable driver-engineer relationships in modern Formula 1.
Lambiase’s responsibilities have also grown beyond Verstappen’s side of the garage. He currently serves as Red Bull’s Head of Racing, meaning his eventual departure requires the team to restructure more than just the voice speaking to Verstappen over the radio. Red Bull’s original announcement said Lambiase would continue in both positions until his planned departure.
For McLaren, getting Lambiase earlier would accelerate another major recruitment from its rival. The Woking operation has already hired former Red Bull figures Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay, while Lambiase’s future Chief Racing Officer position is designed to take some of the trackside leadership workload currently handled by Stella.
The timing is also notable because Verstappen recently committed his own future to Red Bull. After months of speculation over a possible departure, the Dutchman signed an extension through 2030 in August, giving the team a clearer reason to establish the engineering structure that will surround him after Lambiase leaves.
The next phase will therefore begin before the end of 2026. Austin, São Paulo and Las Vegas will effectively provide Hart with three live rehearsals for one of the most demanding engineering jobs in F1, while McLaren and Red Bull determine how soon Lambiase can formally make the move to Woking.
GRANDE PRÊMIO continues to follow the latest developments from the 2026 Formula 1 season.
FAQ
When will Gianpiero Lambiase join McLaren?
Lambiase is officially due to join McLaren as Chief Racing Officer no later than 2028, after his Red Bull contract expires at the end of 2027. De Telegraaf now reports that McLaren is negotiating with Red Bull to secure an earlier release.
Who will replace Gianpiero Lambiase as Max Verstappen’s race engineer?
Tom Hart has been selected as Lambiase’s successor. Red Bull confirmed the decision in July, and De Telegraaf now reports that Hart will engineer Verstappen throughout the Austin, São Paulo and Las Vegas weekends in 2026.
Is Max Verstappen leaving Red Bull?
Verstappen ended the latest speculation over his future by extending his Red Bull contract through 2030 in August. Lambiase, meanwhile, is still scheduled to leave for McLaren.
