Gianpiero ‘GP’ Lambiase’s departure to McLaren starting in 2028 has intensified the perception that Red Bull Racing is going through a period of turbulence and transformation in Formula 1. The decision by Max Verstappen’s race engineer is another chapter in a series of changes that have been shaking the team’s structure in recent years.
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Considered a central figure in Verstappen’s environment, Lambiase was seen as one of the pillars of stability within the team. His departure fueled speculation about the future of the four-time champion, with rumors indicating that the Dutch driver could also leave Red Bull.
The announcement of Lambiase’s departure comes after a sequence of important exits from the Milton Keynes team. In the last two years, heavyweights such as Adrian Newey, Christian Horner, and Helmut Marko have left the team, contributing to the perception that Red Bull’s dominant structure has undergone significant weakening.
Lambiase’s importance in Verstappen’s inner circle is often highlighted, alongside Marko and the Dutchman’s father, former driver Jos Verstappen. With the engineer’s departure, speculation has arisen that McLaren could try to reunite the duo, which raises questions about the future of the British team and possible changes among its current drivers.
The turning point for Red Bull’s current situation is often associated with the death of co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz in 2022. Following his absence, the team went through an internal power struggle, especially involving the shareholding structure and the Mateschitz family’s participation.
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Even before the most recent changes, the team had already lost key figures such as engineering director Rob Marshall, who also moved to McLaren, as well as sporting director Jonathan Wheatley. The departure of Adrian Newey, considered one of the greatest designers in Formula 1 history, further reinforced the sense of transition within the team.
Another decisive moment occurred in July 2025, when Christian Horner was dismissed after two decades at the helm of the team. The decision represented a profound change in leadership and marked one of the most significant episodes in Red Bull’s recent history.
Subsequently, at the end of the 2025 season, the now former team consultant, Helmut Marko, also left the team. The 82-year-old Austrian played a fundamental role in the development of talents such as Sebastian Vettel, Daniel Ricciardo, and Max Verstappen, although he still maintains contact with team members, according to current team principal Laurent Mekies. The sequence of departures reinforces the perception that Red Bull Racing is going through a phase of major reconstruction in Formula 1.
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