Former Formula 1 team boss Guenther Steiner has backed Gianpiero Lambiase to make his sensational switch from Red Bull to McLaren earlier than expected.
The Italian-Brit, who has been the long-time race engineer to Max Verstappen, was confirmed to be making his shocking exit from the Milton Keynes-based squad earlier this month.
Lambiase, as per the McLaren statement confirming the signing, will join the team “no later” than 2028, and will take up the position of Chief Racing Officer.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown has stated that, if it can negotiate an earlier exit for Lambiase, then the Woking-based outfit will do so, but stressed respect to his Red Bull contract.
But Steiner, speaking on the Drive to Wynn podcast, believes that Lambiase will work to exit quicker.
“I think he will be out of Red Bull pretty soon, and maybe can even start earlier at McLaren but they are not keeping him around, and obviously it’s a motivation factor as well,” he said.
“If you know you’re going somewhere else, it’s always difficult. Obviously, you want to do a good job, but is your heart 100%? Maybe only 99%.
“Sometimes that’s not good enough in Formula 1, especially in the position they are now, so they will find the best way forward for them and then decide what they do with GP.”
Lambiase signing underlines ‘long-term’ ambitions of McLaren
Lambiase’s arrival will continue a trend of former Red Bull employees that have joined McLaren, including Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay.
So far, the coups have paid dividends, with the team enjoying a renaissance through two consecutive Constructors’ Championships, added to with Lando Norris’ Drivers’ title victory.
Steiner sees that it is a natural choice for Lambiase, with Red Bull’s form currently waning, with McLaren now back amongst the big boys of F1.
“McLaren is thinking long-term and it’s very smart because Will Courtenay is there from Red Bull as well, very good guy and they have got a very strong team of individuals,” the ex-Haas boss added.
“They are experienced people they are getting, but they are still young enough to have the drive to do it. These are not people which look for retirement, no they still want to go racing and win so very, very smart.
“But again, what I said before, McLaren was winning the last two years and where you want to work if you’re successful is the winning team, and that is how you attract this big talent. That is where they want to be in the future.
“You see your own team is not the dominating team anymore, where do I want to go? To the best team given the opportunity. They didn’t go to a small team, they went to the team that was best the last two years.”
Lambiase is, without doubt, a hugely impressive score for McLaren, and signing him will have been worth every penny if it enables the team to achieve more down the line.
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