Gianpiero Lambiase returned to the role of race engineer for Max Verstappen in the FP3 of the Italian Grand Prix in Formula 1. After working with Tom Hart in FP2, the Red Bull Racing driver will once again have the familiar voice on the radio for the rest of the weekend in Monza.
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The change had been planned as part of Hart’s preparation to definitively take over the role of Verstappen’s race engineer. The Brit received the opportunity to work directly with the four-time world champion in FP2, to gain experience before permanently replacing Lambiase.
On Friday, Verstappen did not participate in FP1, giving his car to Ayumu Iwasa in compliance with the requirement for sessions dedicated to rookies in F1. When he returned to the cockpit in FP2, Hart took on the role that normally belongs to Lambiase.
Lambiase resumed the position this Saturday and will remain alongside Verstappen for the rest of the weekend. The duo, who already have an established working relationship, will be reunited again for preparations for the qualifying session.
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The return comes after a difficult first day for Verstappen. The Dutchman pointed out difficulties in finding the right balance in the car and stated: “It was difficult to find the right balance of the car today (Friday), and we will need to work on that to find a bit more lap time tomorrow.”
Pierre Waché, Red Bull’s technical director, confirmed that the team would dedicate Friday night to investigating the problem: “We are trying to understand what the problem is and solve it in different ways, with setup and with car parts. That is the main thing we are working on now,” concluded the Frenchman.
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