Lambiase set to stay at Red Bull despite rival teams' interest

Gianpiero Lambiase’s future has been one of the quiet subplots bubbling away beneath Formula 1’s louder headlines – but for now, Red Bull’s most trusted voice is staying put.

Despite months of speculation linking Max Verstappen’s long-time race engineer with rival teams, Lambiase is reportedly set to remain with Red Bull Racing through the 2026 season, continuing his dual role as Verstappen’s engineer and the team’s Head of Racing.

Questions over Lambiase’s future first surfaced in the immediate aftermath of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, when reports suggested his continued presence at Red Bull – and even in Formula 1 – was uncertain due to a private family matter.

But the uncertainty sparked widespread interest across the paddock, with Aston Martin and Williams both emerging as potential destinations for one of the sport’s most highly regarded engineers.

That attention was hardly surprising. Lambiase’s responsibilities extend far beyond being the calm, authoritative voice guiding Verstappen on the radio. As Red Bull’s head of racing, he plays a central role in operations, strategy execution and performance management across race weekends.

However, according to a report from Motorsport.com, Lambiase will remain with the Milton Keynes-based outfit in the same roles for 2026.

While that provides short-term stability, it does not entirely shut the door on a move further down the line. No final decisions are believed to have been made regarding interest from other teams, and senior F1 figures are often bound by contracts or subject to periods of gardening leave.

Lambiase’s current Red Bull deal runs until the end of 2027.

Subtle Shifts Around Verstappen

While Lambiase stays, the wider engineering group surrounding Verstappen is beginning to evolve.

Several long-serving members of his crew have been offered new challenges elsewhere in the paddock as teams look to tap into Red Bull’s success.

Performance engineer Tom Hart will remain in place for the current season but is expected to move to Williams for 2027.

Changes have also filtered through the garage on the mechanical side. Last October, it emerged that Audi’s growing F1 project – led by former Red Bull sporting director Jonathan Wheatley – had recruited Verstappen’s number-one mechanic, Matt Caller.

Against that backdrop, Lambiase’s reported decision to stay carries added significance.

As Formula 1 edges toward a major regulatory reset in 2026, Red Bull retaining one of its most influential figures offers continuity at a time when rivals are eager to disrupt the balance of power.

For now, at least, the Verstappen-Lambiase partnership – one of the most successful driver–engineer pairings in modern F1 – looks set to continue.

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