McLaren Confirm Major Coup as Gianpiero ‘GP’ as they Signs Red Bull boss
By Hugo Harvey
Sunday, April 12, 2026
McLaren have delivered a significant statement of intent in the Formula 1 paddock after confirming the future signing of Gianpiero Lambiase from Red Bull Racing, marking one of the most high-profile technical and operational moves in recent years.
The Italian-British engineer, widely known as “GP” within the paddock, will join McLaren as chief racing officer no later than 2028, once his current contractual obligations with Red Bull come to an end. The announcement follows confirmation from Red Bull earlier in the day that Lambiase will depart the Milton Keynes-based team, where he has been a cornerstone of their recent dominance.
Lambiase’s arrival is expected to significantly reshape McLaren’s trackside leadership structure. He will report directly to team principal Andrea Stella and take over responsibilities currently handled by Stella himself, allowing the Italian to focus more broadly on strategic leadership.
In an official statement, McLaren emphasized that the chief racing officer role already exists within its framework, but Lambiase’s appointment represents a long-term investment in elite-level operational excellence. The move is also seen as part of a broader strategy orchestrated by CEO Zak Brown to ensure the team remains competitive at the very front of Formula 1.
Lambiase has become one of the most recognizable voices on team radio over the past decade, largely due to his partnership with four-time world champion Max Verstappen. Since Verstappen’s promotion to Red Bull in 2016, the duo have formed one of the most successful driver-engineer pairings in modern Formula 1 history, playing a central role in multiple championship-winning campaigns.
Despite his upcoming departure, Lambiase will continue serving as Red Bull’s head of racing and Verstappen’s race engineer until he officially exits the team. His continued presence ensures stability for Red Bull in the short term, even as they prepare for a future without one of their most influential figures.
McLaren’s recruitment of Lambiase is the latest in a series of aggressive hires aimed at strengthening their technical and operational departments. In recent seasons, the Woking-based team has already secured key personnel such as Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay, signaling a clear intent to build a championship-caliber structure capable of sustained success.
The team’s statement highlighted that attracting top-tier talent like Lambiase reflects the culture and strategic direction established under Brown and Stella. Both leaders are understood to be on long-term contracts, providing continuity as McLaren push to re-establish themselves as consistent title contenders.
Lambiase’s career trajectory underscores why his signing is considered such a major coup. Before his rise at Red Bull, he spent over a decade with the Silverstone-based outfit that evolved through several identities, including Jordan Grand Prix, Midland F1 Racing, Spyker F1, and Force India.
It was at Force India that Lambiase first established himself as a race engineer in 2010, working with drivers such as Vitantonio Liuzzi, Paul di Resta, and Sergio Perez. His ability to manage race strategy, driver communication, and high-pressure decision-making quickly earned him a strong reputation within the paddock.
He joined Red Bull in 2015, initially working with Daniil Kvyat, before being paired with Verstappen the following season. That partnership would go on to define an era of success for the team, with Lambiase’s calm but firm communication style becoming integral to Verstappen’s on-track performance.
His promotion to head of racing in 2024 marked the pinnacle of his career at Red Bull, combining senior leadership responsibilities with his ongoing duties as a race engineer. At McLaren, however, his role will shift slightly away from direct race engineering, focusing instead on overseeing the entire race team operation.
For McLaren, this move is as much about future-proofing as it is about immediate gains. By securing Lambiase well in advance, the team ensures a seamless transition into a new phase of leadership while continuing to build momentum in their pursuit of championship glory.
For Red Bull, meanwhile, the challenge will be finding a successor capable of filling the void left by one of the most respected engineers in Formula 1. As the sport heads toward a new regulatory era, the loss of Lambiase could prove significant in shaping the competitive landscape.
Ultimately, McLaren’s bold acquisition signals a clear message: they are not just aiming to compete they are positioning themselves to dominate the next era of Formula 1.