Is Gianpiero Lambiase making the right decision leaving Red Bull?

Gianpiero Lambiase is set to depart Red Bull at the end of 2027 to join McLaren in a senior role, bringing an end to one of Formula 1's most successful driver-engineer partnerships.

The Italian, who has been Max Verstappen's race engineer since 2016, has accepted a highly lucrative offer from McLaren that will see him leave Milton Keynes after more than a decade with the team.

Lambiase's departure represents another significant loss for Red Bull, following the exits of Adrian Newey, Jonathan Wheatley, Christian Horner and Helmut Marko in recent years. 

The team has been dismantled piece by piece, with the institutional knowledge built over two decades of dominance steadily walking out the door.

For Verstappen, losing Lambiase will be particularly painful. The pair have won four consecutive world championships together between 2021 and 2024, with their relationship built on brutally honest communication and mutual respect. 

McLaren reportedly fought off competition from Aston Martin and Williams to secure Lambiase's signature, offering an astronomical salary that Red Bull were either unable or unwilling to match.

The move forms part of McLaren's aggressive recruitment strategy. Currently third in the constructors' standings in 2026, the Woking-based team have endured a difficult start to the season with electrical problems plaguing both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri.

Whether Lambiase can replicate his Red Bull success at McLaren remains to be seen, but his track record speaks for itself. The question now is whether he has made the right call in leaving the team where he built his reputation.

Has Lambiase made the right decision?

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