Lambiase and Verstappen Keep Partnership Intact as Red Bull Secures Key Engineer for 2026

Gianpiero “GP” Lambiase, the highly respected race engineer behind Max Verstappen‘s success, has officially confirmed he will stay with Red Bull Racing for the 2026 Formula 1 season, maintaining his role as Verstappen’s race engineer and head of racing. This decision brings relief to the team amid a turbulent off-season that saw multiple key figures depart the Milton Keynes outfit.

In recent months, Lambiase had been linked with potential moves to rivals including Aston Martin and Williams, with reports claiming both teams were interested in securing his services in more senior capacities. Aston Martin was widely seen as the most concrete suitor, allegedly offering an elevated leadership position in its restructuring efforts under former Red Bull designer Adrian Newey.

Despite the external interest, Lambiase’s contract with Red Bull runs through 2027, and the British engineer has opted to stay alongside Verstappen as the team prepares for a new era of technical regulations in Formula 1. His continuation together with Verstappen is seen as vital to maintaining stability within the team’s performance department after several departures, including long-time technical icons.

Lambiase and Verstappen have worked together since the Dutch driver’s early days at Red Bull, building a partnership that contributed to multiple Drivers’ World Championships. Last season, Lambiase missed a couple of grands prix for personal reasons but remained a central figure in car setup, strategy discussions, and race-day communication.

Red Bull will now enter 2026 with much of its core engineering team intact around Verstappen, even as the wider organisation continues to evolve and adapt after significant leadership changes. This continuity is expected to be a cornerstone of the team’s bid to return to title contention under the sport’s next set of technical rules.