With Gianpiero Lambiase confirmed to be making a sensational jump of ship to McLaren has potentially huge ramifications within the world of Formula 1, which include effectively killing off Max Verstappen’s career.
The British-Italian engineer has been confirmed to be joining McLaren upon the expiration of his Red Bull contract at the end of 2027.
According to the first report which broke early on Thursday morning, Lambiase’s switch would likely see him become the Woking-based squad’s Team Principal, with incumbent Andrea Stella set to rejoin Ferrari.
While not the monumental frenzy that accompanied news of Lewis Hamilton’s signing for Ferrari, this coup by McLaren holds huge significance. For it is not in the news itself that causes the intrigue, but the domino effect it will set in motion.
The major talking point is the knock-on effect and implication for F1’s most talked-about figure: Max Verstappen. If Lambiase is indeed defecting to the team that Red Bull lost both titles to last year, Verstappen’s time in the sport could be nearing its end.
The right time for Verstappen and Lambiase to divorce Red Bull?
This move is poetic, but in this case, far from elegant. Verstappen has made no secret of his hatred of the 2026 cars, publicly stating he no longer enjoys driving. He has been visibly wrestling with his emotions and conscience during media sessions, dropping his head at points when asked about his future.
Given his ventures away from the sport, it does seem that the four-time World Champion is seriously considering a trial separation from F1, speculation rife that his priorities have shifted.
Winding the clock back to 2021, Verstappen and Lambiase were the ultimate dream team, much like the fantastic partnership of Lewis Hamilton and Peter Bonnington. The duo overthrew Mercedes as the in-form team, taking Hamilton and ‘Bono’s’ mantle.
The domination that followed in 2022 and 2023 rewrote records in F1, but even as their supremacy was threatened in 2024, the two remained steadfast. Do not underestimate Lambiase’s abilities and contribution to keeping the infamously fiery Verstappen in check during difficult moments.
Lambiase’s stock has grown over the last few seasons through his work with Verstappen, and now it seems he is ready for a change of scenery and responsibility. This would not be happening unless Verstappen has indicated his time is up.
Verstappen just wants to drive cars, without politics or drama. He lives on anything on four wheels. He has always been honest that F1 is not his sole interest, now evident by his racing team exploits in GT3.
But with his doubts over the sport’s future growing as a result of these disastrous regulations, and his growing life away from F1, Lambiase’s move to McLaren has inadvertently confirmed the Dutchman’s time in F1 is done.
Don’t forget that Lambiase will need to take gardening leave prior to taking up his role in 2028. That means a minimum of a year out of the paddock, which would mean he would finish at Red Bull at the end of this year.
Is Verstappen really likely to race in 2027 in cars he hates with a new engineer?
We’re not making that call.
The domino effect for Andrea Stella and Fred Vasseur
McLaren, in its statement confirming Lambiase, confirmed that he will report to Stella, reiterating that the Italian is on a “long-term” contract, appearing to nullify the chances of Lambiase taking over as the team’s boss.
But it is likely that speculation around this particular and important detail will rumble on, and therefore it is churlish not to consider the possibilities if this rumour turns into reality.
The speculation suggested that Stella, who began his F1 career with Ferrari as an engineer, will return to the Scuderia, and without wishing to denigrate the importance of engineers, it would be unlikely that Stella would come back unless it was in the top job.
Unfortunately, Ferrari, in recent years, has become the Formula 1 equivalent to Tottenham Hotspur – trigger-happily firing the boss and appointing another in the hope that the next one is the answer to all its problems. Since its most successful boss, Jean Todt, quit in 2007, it has had six Team Principals, the most recent being its incumbent, Fred Vassuer.
Speculation was rife midway through 2025 that Vasseur was on the cusp of getting the boot, but after making an impassioned rebuke of Italian media in Montreal – and no doubt fuelled by the support of Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton – the Frenchman was retained.
Vasseur has the tools to be another Todt, but his problem lies within some questionably weak links further down the Ferrari food chain. A major Achilles’ heel has been the often suboptimal and omnishambolic decisions made on the pit wall, something seldom seen in Todt’s day.
It has no doubt contributed to the downfall of previous Team Principals, and unless Vasseur is enabled an opportunity to refresh the ranks, then it might be an opportunity for Stella to breeze back into Maranello.
There have been rumours about many potential suitors for the Ferrari job, namely Christian Horner, but Stella ticks two boxes no-one else can: as well as being Italian, he is also now a confirmed success as a Team Principal, having led McLaren to two Constructors’ Championships and one Drivers’ Championship.
Would either party be able to resist a partisan reunion? Non possiamo commentare.
What Motorsport Week thinks
It is worth noting that regardless of the eventualities and realities of Lambiase’s move, it is likely that the crux of it is that his personal circumstances will have been taken into consideration, given personal issues were at the centre of his non-attendance at both the Austrian and Belgian Grands Prix last year.
Some teams, namely Aston Martin, have pointed out that in the modern age of the sport, a Team Principal’s presence at every single Grand Prix isn’t necessarily an automatic requirement, but a giant like McLaren will more than likely want its head honcho manning the pit wall on a constant basis.
But whatever this seismic development will actually produce in reality, it leaves Red Bull another key player short and floundering in the ring, and likely leaving its star driver feeling even more like throwing in the towel.
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