Formula 1 is entering another stretch where contracts can matter as much as tyre temperature. The latest shake-up: Gianpiero Lambiase (often called “GP”), the long-time race engineer behind Max Verstappen, has signed with McLaren. The headline detail is that he is also earmarked to take over as team principal from Andrea Stella when Lambiase’s Red Bull contract runs out at the end of 2027.

That is a massive football-style transfer in the paddock sense. Lambiase and Verstappen have been together since Verstappen joined Red Bull. If you are looking for why this is so important, it is not just the personnel change. It is the relationship, the communication style, and the technical continuity that makes the difference on Sundays.

Why Lambiase leaving Red Bull leaves a huge hole

At Red Bull, Lambiase is widely viewed as a cornerstone of Verstappen’s success. He is credited as one of the major forces behind 4 championship wins. Over time, his role has expanded beyond being “just” an engineer at the track.

He is:

• The calm, decisive voice in Verstappen’s ear
• Extremely direct and precise with race communications
• Not frightened to tell Max what he thinks
• Red Bull’s head of racing, a job he took over from Jonathan Wheatley after Wheatley left late in 2024

There is also a broader context. The run of high-profile departures at Red Bull over recent seasons: Adrian Newey (19 years), Christian Horner (20), Jonathan Wheatley (18), Rob Marshall (17), and Lambiase (12 now, 14 by the time he leaves). That kind of attrition turns management and engineering into a constantly shifting puzzle, especially when the car itself is under pressure.

And that matters because the next layer of problems does not wait its turn. Red Bull still has an “unhappy driver” and a car that is not performing as Lambiase would like. In that environment, a key leadership and technical voice leaving can become a distraction even if Red Bull handles it well.

What does McLaren actually gain?

McLaren are not just paying for someone to tune a car. They are making a statement about long-term leadership and continuity.

The deal is multi-million dollar and tied to two big promises:

• Lambiase will be offered a very healthy salary moving from Milton Keynes to Woking
• He is earmarked to become team principal after 2027, with Andrea Stella leaving the principal role to make space

That team principal promise is crucial. Race engineering talent can be recruited. Building a leadership pipeline that understands how a top team wins and stays winning is harder. Lambiase is coming in with a proven track record and, just as importantly, with an established communication style that Verstappen has frequently praised.

It is also worth noting that how tight the pairing is. Lambiase is part of a very small two-man setup with Verstappen, and also as effectively a number two behind Laurent Mekies in Red Bull’s structure. That kind of proximity to the driver at the highest level makes a move to a different team especially interesting.

What happens to Andrea Stella?

If Lambiase is scheduled to take over team principal duties after 2027, the next question is obvious: what happens to Andrea Stella?

McLaren cannot have two team principals at the same time. Since Stella has been in the team principal role since 2023, he would need to step aside for Lambiase to take over in 2027 or possibly 2028.

That timing matters for McLaren’s internal stability. Team principal roles are not just day-to-day management. They influence technical direction, the culture of decision-making, and even the way risk is communicated down the chain.

In short: this is not a “we’ll just move someone” situation. It is a succession plan.

Could Red Bull block him with gardening leave?

When high-value staff switch teams, the debate often turns to contractual restrictions and information protection. The “gardening leave” depending on how much Red Bull fears Lambiase might take with him.

Key points include:

• If the contractual restriction is 1 year, Red Bull might argue for shortening or adjusting the period
• The assumption is that it would likely not be longer than that
• Contracts are already said to be signed, with money negotiated and positions clarified

There is also a strong financial motivation: if McLaren does not promote Lambiase to team principal “for any reason,” he would receive a healthy payout in the millions.

That piece matters because it frames the move as deliberate and structured. This is not presented as a vague chat in a garage. It is a deal already locked down.

What this could mean for Max Verstappen

Even if Verstappen and Lambiase never physically move to the same team again, the bond is what makes the announcement resonate. This could be the last straw for Max, not necessarily because of a single race, but because of the combined pressure of regulation changes and the loss of a trusted engineer.

Two parts stand out:

• Verstappen has already said he is not enjoying things with the new regulations and the current car direction
• Separating Verstappen from a highly regarded engineer could compound frustration

The “fork in the road” scenario is like this: Max could sit out 2027, resulting in Red Bull needing to find a replacement – Charles Leclerc or George Russell are hypothetical options (though the idea is speculative rather than confirmed).

Whether or not those names are right, the underlying principle is clear. Driver motivation and driver-engineer trust are not static assets. They are relationships that can be stressed by technical direction and timing.

Is “silly season” starting early?

April is usually not when the full season’s contract turbulence feels at its peak. Yet it already looks like the market has begun accelerating.

Examples cited include:

• Jonathan Wheatley leaving Audi about 3 weeks earlier than expected, with a destination believed to be Aston Martin pending confirmation
• Another major move now involving Lambiase heading for McLaren

Then there is a wider domino angle: if teams start trading key leadership figures early, the knock-on effect can show up at multiple garages by mid-season.

It is the kind of chain reaction that can force other teams to react rather than plan.

Where could Verstappen go next? Mercedes is mentioned

The possibility that Max Verstappen could eventually end up at Mercedes.

Why Mercedes gets mentioned:

• Mercedes are currently having the best car
• Max would love a 5th championship, which is unlikely at Red Bull “this year”

It then argues a second-order point: if Max were to jump ship, it would likely involve George Russell’s seat. Toto Wolff’s investment in “Kimmi”, and claims Russell’s current salary is higher than Kimmi’s and that Kimmi offers “more upside.”

The ending image is clear: Max and Kimmi at Mercedes would be a “tantalising and formidable” lineup.

What about Aston Martin?

Lambiase turned down an offer from Aston Martin back in February, and only a couple of months later the story becomes a McLaren deal.

That does not prove anything by itself. But it underscores that for Lambiase, the priority appears to be the role, the long-term structure, and the leadership path, not just the destination.

When will this be officially announced?

Until confirmation arrives, speculation is all we have. Once broader media coverage pressures the teams, Red Bull may need to confirm the situation.

McLaren statement is “less likely.” And it highlights that Lambiase may not speak to media before the Miami race, because race engineers typically do not do media until or unless the team requests it.

For anyone tracking the story, the “timing question” as mainly contractual and operational. If the deal is already signed and the money is already negotiated, what remains is communication discipline.

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