Red Bull and McLaren clarify Lambiase's future role after comments

Red Bull and McLaren held talks following comments by team principal Laurent Mekies about Gianpiero Lambiase's move to the papaya squad in 2028. McLaren confirmed Lambiase will serve as Chief Racing Officer reporting to Andrea Stella.

News of Lambiase's planned departure from Red Bull leaked recently, sparking speculation that he would become McLaren's team principal while Stella might join Ferrari. Ferrari rejected those links, and McLaren issued a statement clarifying that Lambiase will take the existing Chief Racing Officer role under Stella.

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News illustration of Red Bull race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase signing with McLaren as chief racing officer for 2028.
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McLaren hires Red Bull race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase for 2028

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McLaren has confirmed the signing of Gianpiero Lambiase, Max Verstappen's long-time race engineer at Red Bull, as its chief racing officer no later than 2028. Red Bull verified that Lambiase will depart when his contract expires at the end of 2027. The move follows McLaren's previous hires of other Red Bull personnel.

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies has expressed respect for Gianpiero Lambiase's decision to join McLaren as chief racing officer in 2028, calling it a rare chance after nearly a decade with the team. The move follows supportive comments from Max Verstappen and makes Lambiase the third key Red Bull staffer to depart for the reigning champions.

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Max Verstappen has backed his long-time race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase's decision to join McLaren as chief racing officer in 2028, following last week's announcement. Lambiase consulted Verstappen beforehand, who called it an 'incredible opportunity.' Ex-F1 driver David Coulthard foresees challenges for Red Bull in managing Lambiase until his contract ends.

Red Bull has identified Oscar Piastri as its preferred option to replace Max Verstappen if the four-time world champion leaves the team. Sources in the Miami paddock confirmed the plan despite Verstappen's contract for next year.

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McLaren team principal Andrea Stella announced that the team will deliver an entirely new version of its MCL40 car for the Miami Grand Prix and Canada. The upgrade focuses on aerodynamic improvements for North American races. Stella expects rivals to introduce similar changes.

Oscar Piastri has made changes to his management setup for the 2026 Formula 1 season, with Mark Webber stepping back from trackside duties. The Australian driver emphasized that the shift is not dramatic and Webber remains involved. This comes as pre-season testing in Bahrain nears its end.

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McLaren team principal Andrea Stella stated that Mercedes and Ferrari outperformed his team in race simulations during the first pre-season test in Bahrain. He highlighted their competitive pace while noting Red Bull's strong position. Stella cautioned against overinterpreting test results but placed Ferrari and Mercedes at the top early on.

 

 

 

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