McLaren confirm major signing of Gianpiero Lambiase from Red Bull
McLaren have officially announced the signing of Gianpiero Lambiase from Red Bull Racing, marking a significant long-term addition to their technical leadership structure.
Lambiase, best known as the long-time race engineer of four-time world champion Max Verstappen, was earlier confirmed to be leaving the Milton Keynes-based outfit. Despite his impending departure, he will continue in his current dual role as Red Bull’s head of racing and Verstappen’s race engineer until his contract expires.
McLaren have now confirmed that Lambiase will join the team as chief racing officer no later than 2028, reporting directly to team principal Andrea Stella.
In an official statement, McLaren outlined that the chief racing officer role already exists within the team’s structure and carries overall responsibility for race team operations—duties currently overseen by Stella alongside his leadership role.
The Woking-based team described Lambiase’s appointment as part of a broader strategy to strengthen its competitive edge and reinforce its ambition of becoming a consistent championship contender. His arrival follows previous high-profile hires, including Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay, as McLaren continue to build depth across their technical and operational departments.
The statement also highlighted the leadership of CEO Zak Brown and Stella as central to the team’s ability to attract top-tier talent, underlining a long-term vision focused on sustained success in Formula 1.
Who is Gianpiero Lambiase?
Lambiase has been a pivotal figure in Verstappen’s success since the Dutch driver joined Red Bull in 2016, playing a key role in multiple championship campaigns. He initially joined Red Bull in 2015, working with former driver Daniil Kvyat.
Before his tenure at Red Bull, Lambiase spent over a decade with the Silverstone-based team now known as Aston Martin, during its previous identities as Jordan, Midland, Spyker, and Force India. His first race engineer role came in 2010, working with Vitantonio Liuzzi, before going on to collaborate with drivers such as Paul di Resta and Sergio Perez.
In 2024, Lambiase was promoted to head of racing at Red Bull, the most senior role of his career to date. At McLaren, he is expected to take on a more strategic leadership position, stepping back from direct race weekend engineering duties while overseeing the broader performance of the race team.