McLaren line up Gianpiero Lambiase as Andrea Stella edges toward Ferrari

McLaren are reportedly preparing for a significant leadership reshuffle, with Red Bull head of racing Gianpiero Lambiase set to become the team’s new principal from 2028. The move follows strong indications that current boss Andrea Stella has agreed a contract with Ferrari.

That resurgence culminated in major silverware. McLaren secured their first constructors’ title since 1998 during the 2024 season, before matching Red Bull’s record for the earliest title triumph in 2025. Lando Norris also delivered the 2025 drivers’ championship — McLaren’s first since 2008 — under Stella’s leadership.

Lambiase to replace Stella from 2028

According to reports, McLaren have moved decisively to secure Lambiase, who currently serves as both Red Bull’s head of racing and Max Verstappen’s race engineer. It is understood that he will remain with Red Bull until the end of the 2027 Formula 1 season before joining McLaren in 2028, following a period of gardening leave.

The pursuit of Lambiase comes amid growing belief within McLaren that Stella is heading back to Ferrari. Stella originally joined McLaren in 2015 after a long spell with the Scuderia that began in 2000.

F1 reporter Jacky Martens claims Stella has already signed a pre-contract with Ferrari, describing the situation as "very hot". Speaking on the Paddock Access podcast, Martens said:

“One Italian is coming to McLaren, [and] one Italian is leaving. If [Lambiase is] becoming [the] TP, then someone has to go. According to my information, [Stella] has already signed a pre-contract with Ferrari, which is very hot.”

If confirmed, the appointment of Lambiase would represent a bold and strategic hire by McLaren, securing one of Red Bull’s most prominent figures amid a period of transition.

Ferrari’s motivation and pressure in Maranello

Stella’s potential return to Ferrari carries significant weight. During his previous tenure in Maranello from 2000 to 2014, he worked as a performance engineer for Michael Schumacher and later Kimi Raikkonen. His time at Ferrari coincided with all five of Schumacher’s titles with the team, as well as Raikkonen’s 2007 drivers’ crown.

Ferrari have not won a drivers’ championship since Raikkonen’s triumph in 2007, nor a constructors’ title since 2008. Stella’s recent success at McLaren is therefore believed to have made him a prime target as the Scuderia seek to end that drought.

However, his arrival would inevitably raise questions about the position of current team principal Fred Vasseur. Vasseur retained his role after coming under pressure in 2025 and signed a new contract for the 2026 season, but reports in December suggested he had been given the first five races of 2026 to secure his future.

Three races into the campaign, Ferrari have started strongly, securing podium finishes at each of the opening Grands Prix. Even so, the speculation surrounding Stella’s pre-contract adds another layer of intrigue to the political landscape in Maranello.

A defining shift for multiple teams

Should Stella depart and Lambiase arrive as planned, McLaren’s leadership structure would undergo a significant transformation just a few years after returning to championship-winning form.

At the same time, Ferrari’s reported pursuit of Stella signals clear intent to reshape their own competitive trajectory. With contracts signed, gardening leave looming, and performance pressure building, the coming seasons could redefine the balance of power not only on track — but at the very top of Formula 1’s most influential pit walls.

The story, first reported by Erik van Haren of De Telegraaf, points to a high-stakes game of succession planning between three of Formula 1’s biggest operations — and its consequences may not be fully felt until 2028.