Max Verstappen and race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase have been together through thick and thin in F1, but the intensity of the 2021 season – Verstappen’s first championship winning year – permanently cemented the relationship between the two men.
Their working duo is one of the most remarkable partnerships in the sport, and perhaps the most successful of all, with Lambiase guiding Verstappen to every single one of his 52 career wins in F1.
The pair’s collaboration hasn’t been without its moments of tension however, but the bickering and disagreements are a vital aspect of their process, enabling them to arrive at the best solutions in any given set of circumstances.
In the high-stakes world of Grand Prix racing, the Verstappen-Lambiase partnership is defined by its ability to maintain mutual respect and trust while pushing each other to achieve greatness.
And this unique dynamic has consistently delivered outstanding performance, securing their place in the sport's history.
Discussing their partnership on the Talking Bull podcast, Lambiase delves into the evolution of their working dynamic, tracing back to the time he began collaborating with Verstappen at the age of 18.
“It's totally natural that after seven or eight years that we know each other inside out and we know what triggers the other one, how to coax, or put the arm around the other one's shoulder," explained the Red Bull Racing engineer, familiarly known as ‘GP’.
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Lambiase and Verstappen enjoyed an extraordinary baptism of fire together when the Dutchman won his very first race with Red Bull Racing in Barcelona in 2016.
They shared more race wins together in the years that followed but it was anything but a jubilant period, with Red Bull and Verstappen unable to challenge the hegemony of the Mercedes powerhouse.
And then came 2021, a season of fierce competition and title-deciding drama between Verstappen and arch-rival Lewis Hamilton.
"In 2018, 2019, and 2020 when the car wasn't quite as competitive as the team would have liked, especially for Max," Lambiase recalled.
"At that point you can see his frustration coming through already that he wasn't able to compete for the championships at that point.
"We had a few ups and downs I would say in that period; the middle, third, fourth, fifth year. But since 2021 - which was so intense - the relationship and the bond was cemented that year."
Verstappen contends that the intense rivalry with Mercedes during this period not only brought them closer but also coincided with his transformation from young gun to a mature Grand Prix winner.
“I started at the team when I was 18 years old, now I'm 26," said Verstappen.
"When I look back at those images from the first few races I did with the team I'm like 'Oh, my God' - It's very different.
"Also in my behaviour and growing up more, it's only natural that helps a lot in your relationship."
Verstappen’s strong self-confidence and obsession with success will sometimes lead to biting messages to his side-kick over the radio.
But Lambiase's firm stance with Verstappen is perhaps one of the most significant aspects of their relationship. He knows when to push Max to achieve his best, maintain his focus, and extract the maximum performance from the car.
At the same time, he also knows when to rein in Max's natural aggressiveness, especially in high-pressure situations. This duality of his role ensures that Verstappen remains in check and makes the right decisions on the track.
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“People sometimes don’t really understand the relationship we have,” said the Dutchman. “Conversations can get fiery, but that’s the way I like to approach our racing. We both want the best.
“I don’t even have to say anything now, if I have a bit of oversteer or understeer, and GP will know what to change on the car for me — to suit the way I drive the car as well.
“That sort of trust takes time, which is why I’ve always been against switching race engineer. They’re very crucial in your performance, so the longer you can stay together, the better.”
Amid the pressures of a race weekend, clarity takes precedence over courtesy as far as Lambiase is concerned.
“Being yourself is also really important,” he says. “There’s no tip-toeing around any issues.
“If we have to be blunt about something with each other, we will be and that just fast-tracks you to short term gains which ultimately is maximising the performance of the car over a race weekend.”
When asked to capture Verstappen in a single word, Lambiase chooses the same descriptor for himself, showcasing why they form such an effective working duo.
“I use the word 'insatiable' [to describe Max], which I think goes for me as well," said Lambiase.
"No matter how many races we win, or how many championships we have won or could win, I think the point is I don't think we're ever happy.
"Our bar is so high, I'd say we're both perfectionist and that nothing is ever good enough. That's what really motivates us to just keep doing what we're doing and following the process."
The pair’s working relationship still has a promising future ahead. But emulating in 2024 their hegemonic 2023 campaign will be a very challenging exercise, as Red Bull’s rivals have no intention of letting the Milton Keynes outfit’s supremacy go unchecked.
A tongue-and-cheek Lambiase actually fears the moment when the bulls’ rivals catch up, or rather Verstappen’s reaction to losing his sovereignty. .
"My biggest fear is the moment that we do have increased competition and we're not winning every race," he says.
"Because, you see how he's treating me at the moment and he's winning every race! I'm really not looking forward to it."
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