Max Verstappen will have Tom Hart as his race engineer at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, with Red Bull beginning a gradual transition ahead of Gianpiero Lambiase’s departure for McLaren.
Hart, who has worked as Verstappen’s performance engineer, is scheduled to assume the race-engineering role at three of the remaining six grands prix in 2026: Austin, São Paulo and Las Vegas.
Lambiase will remain at the circuits and continue carrying out his senior responsibilities within Red Bull’s racing operation, rather than leaving the team immediately.
The arrangement is designed to prepare Hart for the permanent role while maintaining continuity around Verstappen during the closing stages of the season.
Lambiase’s departure to McLaren is already confirmed
Lambiase has worked as Verstappen’s race engineer since the Dutchman joined Red Bull in 2016.
Their partnership has produced four Drivers’ Championships and more than 70 grand prix victories, establishing one of the most successful driver-engineer combinations in Formula 1 history.
However, Lambiase is scheduled to join McLaren as Chief Racing Officer in 2028, after his existing Red Bull contract expires.
McLaren has also been linked with efforts to secure an earlier release, although no revised departure date has been officially announced.
As previously reported by GRANDE PRÊMIO, Red Bull has been preparing Hart to succeed Lambiase while the two teams discuss the timing of the transition.
Hart takes over during Verstappen’s winning streak
The timing of the change is particularly significant because Verstappen has returned to winning form.
The Red Bull driver won the Bahrain Grand Prix at Sepang and followed that result with victory in Singapore, demonstrating substantial improvements in the RB22’s performance.
His recovery has placed renewed attention on Red Bull’s prospects for 2027, when the team hopes to challenge Mercedes and Kimi Antonelli from the beginning of the championship.
Hart will therefore take over race-engineering responsibilities during a period in which Verstappen is attempting to extend his winning streak.
The engineer’s responsibilities will include radio communication, coordinating setup decisions and supporting race strategy during the weekend.
Which races will Hart engineer Verstappen?
| Grand Prix | Date | Race engineer |
|---|---|---|
| United States — Austin | October 25 | Tom Hart |
| Mexico City | November 1 | Gianpiero Lambiase |
| São Paulo | November 8 | Tom Hart |
| Las Vegas | November 21 | Tom Hart |
| Qatar | November 29 | Gianpiero Lambiase |
| Abu Dhabi | December 6 | Gianpiero Lambiase |
The arrangement allows Hart to gain experience across different circuit characteristics before assuming the role permanently.
The next race is the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of The Americas, scheduled for October 23–25.
