Fans fear Gianpiero Lambiase’s move to McLaren could signal Max Verstappen’s Red Bull exit
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| Gianpiero Lambiase, Race Engineer, Red Bull Racing, Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, 1st position, on the podium Photo by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images |
The news that Max Verstappen's race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase is set to move to McLaren has left Formula 1 fans with one question: what does this mean for the four-time champion?
Lambiase has signed a long-term deal with McLaren from 2028 after his current contract expires, unless an earlier release is negotiated. Lambiase will take the role of chief racing officer at the Woking outfit, reporting to team principal Andrea Stella.
Lambiase's upcoming move comes after a slew of high-profile exits from Red Bull, including Adrian Newey, Christian Horner, Helmut Marko, Jonathan Wheatley, Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay.
The news has also come amid retirement talk from Verstappen. The Dutchman has been clear that he would consider leaving F1 before the end of his contract, which currently expires at the end of 2028, if he does not enjoy the new regulations.
"I guess Max is either leaving the sport or the team soon," one fan commented on Reddit, while another responded: "Could even be a decision by the both of them. If you leave, I leave, just give the other one enough time to find something else. Max has no interest in F1 if the regs remain like this, and would rather do anything else. GP knows this and has been shopping around. My money is on that they quit RB at the same time."
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| Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing with Race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase |
"Wow! Totally didn’t see this coming. Wonder what it means for Max," another fan wrote, while someone else commented: "I think this all but confirms Max is taking a break, probably through the rest of these sh***y regulations. I don't see him trying to chase GP when GP will not be his race engineer anymore regardless in his new role."
One fan also commented: "What in the world is happening. Max must be quitting."
Another fan hoped that it would not lead to Verstappen's exit from the championship altogether, but a team move. "I hope this means Max will leave for Mercedes, I don't want him to retire just yet," they posted.
Verstappen is yet to comment on this news, but in 2021 he told Dutch broadcaster Ziggo Sport: "I have said to him I only work with him. As soon as he stops, I stop too. Of course, we can be pretty strict with each other sometimes, but I want that too.
"He has to tell me when I'm being a jerk and I have to tell him. I always told him that."
- Lydia Mee
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