Lando Norris welcomes Gianpiero Lambiase’s future move to McLaren
A strategic addition for Woking
The Formula 1 paddock was sent into a tailspin during the April break with the announcement that Gianpiero Lambiase, the long-time race engineer for Max Verstappen at Red Bull, is set to join McLaren. While the official timeline points to a 2028 arrival, there is anticipation that the British engineer could make the move to Woking sooner following a period of gardening leave.
Lambiase, who has served as Verstappen’s race engineer since 2016 and currently holds the title of Head of Racing at the Milton Keynes outfit, will be reuniting with former Red Bull colleagues Will Courtenay and Rob Marshall. His arrival is viewed as a significant coup for McLaren, as the team continues to bolster its technical and operational ranks.
Lando Norris welcomes the expertise
Lando Norris has expressed his enthusiasm regarding the signing, viewing Lambiase as a vital piece of the puzzle in McLaren’s pursuit of excellence. Speaking to Sky Sports, the McLaren driver emphasized the team's commitment to securing top-tier talent across all departments.
“We want the best of the best in every area,” Norris stated. “As a team, we believe there’s an area that he can cover and a responsibility that he can improve within our team. It’s all about working together well and we believe he’s a good team player and someone that can just help us elevate in another area.”
Norris acknowledged the prestige Lambiase brings, noting his track record alongside the reigning world champion. “He’s obviously a great guy. He’s someone who’s achieved an incredible amount with Max. Everyone knows of him and everyone hears him on the radio every now and then. So he’s a cool addition, and I think it’s a great opportunity for us to learn from someone new.”
Addressing the leadership structure
The appointment of Lambiase comes at a time when McLaren is looking to optimize its internal management. Team Principal Andrea Stella has been clear about the necessity of the move, specifically regarding his own workload. Stella has confirmed that Lambiase will step into the role of Chief Racing Officer—a position currently held by Stella himself.
Stella noted that his current dual role is “not sustainable” due to the sheer volume of responsibility. By bringing in Lambiase, the team aims to alleviate the pressure on the Team Principal while simultaneously injecting high-level experience into the organization.
Despite speculation linking Stella to a move to Ferrari, both the team and the Team Principal have firmly denied such rumors, clarifying that Lambiase’s arrival is strictly a strategic move to enhance McLaren’s operational quality. While Helmut Marko has claimed that Red Bull has already secured a replacement for Lambiase from Ferrari, no official confirmation has been made by the team. For now, the focus remains on how this high-profile transition will shape the future of the Woking-based squad.
Simone Scanu
He’s a software engineer with a deep passion for Formula 1 and motorsport. He co-founded Formula Live Pulse to make live telemetry and race insights accessible, visual, and easy to follow.