Laurent Mekies: Lambiase joining McLaren is an extraordinary opportunity

The Formula 1 paddock is bracing for a significant structural shift as Gianpiero Lambiase, the long-time race engineer for Max Verstappen, prepares to depart Red Bull Racing. In a move that underscores the high-stakes nature of personnel acquisition in the sport, Lambiase is set to join McLaren for the 2028 season, where he will assume the role of chief racing officer, working directly under team principal Andrea Stella.

A "once in a lifetime" opportunity

Lambiase’s departure marks the end of a highly successful tenure at Red Bull, which began in 2015. Since 2016, he has been the voice in Verstappen’s ear, a partnership that has yielded four world titles and two constructors’ championships. Following the departure of Jonathan Wheatley to Sauber, Lambiase also took on the head of racing role in 2025.

Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies acknowledged the gravity of the move, emphasizing that the team had been in long-term discussions regarding Lambiase’s future.

“He has had an extraordinary opportunity,” Mekies told Sky Sports. “We respect the fact that this opportunity comes once in a lifetime. As much as it has been news for you guys, it’s something we have been discussing with him for a very long time and we only wish him well in that next phase.”

Mekies added that Red Bull views this transition as a catalyst for internal evolution: “We will, when the time comes, make sure we turn that into an opportunity for our people and for the skill set we want to have.”

Verstappen’s blessing

The bond between a driver and their race engineer is often cited as the most critical relationship in the garage, a dynamic recently explored in David Coulthard’s analysis of the driver-engineer partnership. Despite the professional loss, Max Verstappen has been vocal in his support for his long-time collaborator.

“It’s an incredible opportunity for him, not just in terms of the role but also for his future,” Verstappen told Viaplay. “You have to think about your family and long-term security as well. He told me he wanted to hear it from me, I said ‘100% you should just go for it’.”

Reflecting on their shared history, the four-time champion remained philosophical about the future. “We’ve already achieved everything together and more than once. We’ve won a lot, that won’t change. We’re both still young. You never know what happens in the future; maybe we’ll work together again. We’ll be friends for life. Everyone has their own goals and ambitions, you can’t hold someone back.”

A growing trend of poaching

Lambiase’s move to Woking is the latest in a series of high-profile staff acquisitions by McLaren from the Milton Keynes outfit. He follows in the footsteps of chief designer Rob Marshall and sporting director Will Courtenay, further signaling McLaren’s aggressive strategy to bolster its leadership ranks as it continues to challenge at the front of the grid. As the teams prepare for the upcoming races, the focus remains on how these personnel shifts will reshape the competitive landscape of the 2028 season and beyond.