McLaren CEO Zak Brown has blasted at least one unnamed rivals Formula 1 outfit for “stirring” rumours that Gianpiero Lambiase has been signed as a mooted replacement for Team Principal Andrea Stella, describing speculation as “total nonsense”.
The Italian-Brit was announced as a major coup by the Woking-based squad earlier this month, and will join from Red Bull “no later” than 2028.
It follows a growing trend of high-profile Red Bull staff vacating the Milton Keynes-based team for pastures new, and leaves Max Verstappen without one of his closest aides.
Rumours on the day of the announcement surfaced that Lambiase would become McLaren’s Team Principal, with additional speculation suggesting that Stella is seeking a dream return to Ferrari, replacing Fred Vasseur.
But speaking to Sky Sports F1, Brown rubbished the claims and accused rivals on the grid for causing the rumour.
“I can confirm that’s total nonsense, a team or two stirring it,” he said.
“A great part of our sport is everyone likes to maybe destabilise teams but that doesn’t work here.
“Andrea is very committed to McLaren, we’re very committed to Andrea and couldn’t be happier and you are going to see him in a McLaren outfit for quite some time.”
Brown continued: “Andrea, at the end of the day, is the one who hired GP [Lambiase].”
When asked if there was any possibility that Lambiase could join McLaren earlier, Brown said: “There’s always a chance, but he has a contract and we’re going to respect that.
“Obviously in conversations with Red Bull, they obviously need to I presume have a solution and then once and if that’s in place, open to have a dialogue.
“But we’re prepared to wait to ’28 and that’s what we’ll do if that’s what ends up happening.”
Lambiase will take up the post of Chief Racing Officer. Regardless of whether it leads to a future spot heading up the pit wall in papaya, or whether it makes him part of a McLaren supergroup with Stella in charge, it is no doubt a major win for the team.
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