Verstappen Signals Gradual Handover as Lambiase Prepares Move to McLaren

Overview

• Gianpiero Lambiase is confirmed to leave Red Bull after the 2027 season and join McLaren at the start of 2028.
• Max Verstappen says he already has an internal replacement in mind and that the handover will be carried out step by step, with preparations likely to begin toward the end of the year.
• No official successor has been named yet; Simon Rennie is the most visible internal candidate after previously deputising on race weekends.
• Red Bull plans to progressively reduce the operational detail shared with Lambiase during his remaining contract to prevent sensitive information flowing to a direct rival.
• Lambiase’s exit closes a decade-plus engineer–driver partnership and adds to a recent run of senior departures at the team, a dynamic that could affect Red Bull’s stability and on-track performance.