Giedo van der Garde predicts Max Verstappen will leave Red Bull before Lambiase

The landscape at Red Bull Racing faces a significant shift as news emerges that Gianpiero Lambiase, the race engineer who has been the steady voice behind Max Verstappen’s four world championship titles, is set to join McLaren in a senior management role starting in 2028. This impending transition has sparked intense speculation regarding the future of the team’s star driver.

Van der Garde’s assessment

Writing in his column for Formule 1 Magazine, van der Garde did not mince words when asked who would depart the Milton Keynes outfit first. "I'm putting my money on Max," he stated.

This outlook highlights the growing frustration surrounding Red Bull’s competitive trajectory. Despite improvements seen in the latter half of last year under team principal Laurent Mekies, the team has struggled to maintain momentum, appearing to take a step backward over the winter.

A mutual respect for Lambiase’s career path

While the departure of such a key figure is a blow to Red Bull, van der Garde expressed full support for Lambiase’s career progression. "First of all, it's a wonderful opportunity for Lambiase. If you can grow into the role of team boss at a top team like McLaren, then you have to grab that chance with both hands," he noted.

Van der Garde emphasized that this sentiment is shared by the Verstappen camp, citing the deep-rooted loyalty that has defined the partnership. "He deserves it wholeheartedly. Not only do I think that, but so do the Verstappens. Lambiase has always been very loyal to Max, and they've had a fantastic time together, with four titles as a result."

Maintaining stability amidst change

Despite the unconventional nature of an engineer moving to a direct rival, van der Garde argues that Red Bull should resist the urge to make immediate changes to their working structure.

"Despite knowing that Lambiase is moving to a direct competitor, I believe he should be able to continue fulfilling his current role until the very last day," van der Garde concluded. "He's a valuable asset for the team and for Max. If Red Bull is sensible, it will keep that collaboration intact for as long as possible."