The paddock’s worst-kept secret simply grew to become official. the signing of Gianpiero Lambiase, and the person behind 4 world championships, because the workforce’s new Chief Racing Officer. He’ll be a part of McLaren formally in 2028.
This can be a huge transfer. Not only for McLaren, however for your entire grid.
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Why Lambiase’s Transfer to McLaren May Be Large Signal
Lambiase, 45, has been Verstappen’s solely race engineer for the reason that Dutch driver arrived at Purple Bull in 2016. The 2 have constructed some of the profitable partnerships in System 1 historical past, and Verstappen himself has been clear about what Lambiase means to him. After his first title in 2021, he advised Ziggo Sport flat out that if GP stops, he stops too.
So yeah. This complicates issues.
McLaren confirmed Lambiase will turn out to be head of race engineering on the workforce, with sources near the group indicating workforce principal Andrea Stella’s position stays unchanged. Stella, who joined from Ferrari in 2015 and took the highest job in 2023, has guided McLaren to back-to-back constructors’ titles. Lambiase slots in above the engineering construction, not by way of it.
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He reportedly turned down a proposal from Aston Martin to turn out to be their workforce principal earlier than McLaren got here in with the extra engaging bundle. That claims one thing about the place McLaren is correct now and the place they’re headed.
That is additionally a part of a much bigger sample. Lambiase follows Rob Marshall, who joined McLaren as technical director in 2024, and Will Courtenay, who joined this 12 months as sporting director, each of whom are former Purple Bull workforce members. The Woking outfit is basically rebuilding Purple Bull’s mind belief below papaya colours. Piece by piece.
The elephant within the room, in fact, is Verstappen. He’s already mentioned on the finish of this season, regardless of a Purple Bull contract operating by way of 2028. Dropping Lambiase doesn’t make that call any simpler.
Each Purple Bull and McLaren declined to remark past McLaren’s official announcement. However the silence from Milton Keynes speaks a lot loudly by itself.
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The 2026 season is already difficult sufficient. Now this.
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