Overview
- McLaren and Red Bull confirmed last week that Gianpiero Lambiase will become McLaren’s chief racing officer no later than 2028, reporting to team principal Andrea Stella.
- Lambiase will continue as Max Verstappen’s race engineer at Red Bull until he leaves, though multiple reports suggest a negotiated earlier release and gardening leave could be agreed.
- Verstappen’s contract runs to 2028 with reported performance‑based exit clauses, and he has criticized the 2026 cars while Red Bull’s RB22 has struggled for pace and consistency.
- Pundits such as Ralf Schumacher are speculating about a blockbuster move that sends Verstappen to McLaren and Oscar Piastri to Red Bull, which remains unverified and contingent on contracts.
- Red Bull’s technical leadership is under pressure after poor early results and driver complaints, and the FIA is discussing limited 2026 rule tweaks with teams ahead of the Miami weekend.