Verstappen opens up for first time on Lambiase move to McLaren

Max Verstappen has spoken publicly for the first time about GianPiero Lambiase’s bombshell move to McLaren – a decision that was not only understood by the Dutchman but also but quietly endorsed by the latter.

For years, Lambiase’s voice has been the constant in Verstappen’s ear – calm, direct, and often unflinching in the heat of the battle.

Together, they built one of Formula 1’s most formidable partnerships. So when news broke that long-standing Red Bull race engineer would be leaving Milton Keynes for Woking in 2028, the assumption was simple: this was a fracture.

But Verstappen’s first public comments tell a far more intriguing story.

The secret blessing

Speaking this week at a Viaplay event, Verstappen pulled back the curtain on a move that many believe might signal the end of his own career at Red Bull.

Far from a betrayal, the move was preceded by a quiet request for permission. Lambiase, despite being courted by other heavy hitters like Aston Martin, sought the "okay" from the man whose career he helped define.

“He told me what kind of offer he’d received. I said: ‘You’d be daft not to take it,’" Verstappen revealed, detailing the personal nature of their conversation.

“We’ve already achieved everything together and then he gets such a fantastic offer, especially with his family in mind and the security it would bring him.

“He asked me for my approval, so to speak, and I told him he absolutely had to go for it. He really wanted to hear that from me.”

A shift in the winds

The timing of this exit is particularly curious. Verstappen has been vocal about his disdain for the 2026 technical regulations, leading many to believe that the loss of his right-hand man would be the final nudge toward the exit door.

Furthermore, in the past, the Dutchman had famously suggested that if "GP" left, he might just follow. Yet the narrative from the Verstappen camp has shifted from defiance to a quiet acceptance of a legacy already fulfilled.

Even Jos Verstappen, a man rarely known for understatement, suggested that the bond between the two has evolved into something that transcends the cockpit.

When asked by RaceXpress if the departure would trigger Max’s retirement, Verstappen Sr. offered a grounded perspective.

“I think things have changed,” said the former Grand Prix driver. “Especially after four championships, you’ve achieved a lot together. The final decision is up to Max, but I think he’ll just carry on.”

For now, the four-time champion is looking toward different horizons, turning his attention this weekend to the Nürburgring 24 Hours qualifying races ahead of his onslaught on the classic GT endurance event at the end of May.

Read also:

Jos Verstappen: ‘We knew about Lambiase move to McLaren'

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