Max Verstappen has been handed bombshell news as long-time engineer Gianpiero Lambiase is to leave Red Bull at the end of 2027 and join McLaren.
De Limburger reports that McLaren has won the battle for Lambiase, who also serves as head of racing, ahead of Aston Martin and Williams.
Sources have confirmed to RacingNews365 that Lambiase is understood to have agreed a multi-million-pound deal with McLaren.
The suggestion is that Lambiase's move signals potential changes within the Woking-based team's leadership structure, as boss Andrea Stella is being linked to a potential return to Ferrari.
The deal fits into recent McLaren moves in poaching senior Red Bull personnel. Previously, Rob Marshall joined the team as chief designer, whilst Will Courtenay also made the switch and now serves as sporting director.
For Verstappen, losing Lambiase means the departure of a crucial link. The two have worked together since May 2016, when the 28-year-old was promoted from Toro Rosso to Red Bull, and their partnership has resulted in four F1 titles for the Dutchman.
It is another major exit for Red Bull, which last year lost Adrian Newey to Aston Martin and Jonathan Wheatley to Audi.
Top advisor Helmut Marko also left the team at the end of last year, whilst former team principal Christian Horner was sacked in July and replaced by Laurent Mekies.
Both Red Bull and McLaren are currently declining to comment.
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