Gianpiero Lambiase, Max Verstappen’s race engineer, will leave Red Bull to join McLaren 2028, but the exact title remains disputed. Red Bull announced his departure as head of race engineering and insisted he is headed for the McLaren team principal role. McLaren, meanwhile, referenced a pre‑existing chief racing officer position, adding to the confusion. This move could reshape technical leadership across the grid.

McLaren clarified that the chief racing officer duties are already performed by Andrea Stella, who also serves as team principal. Stella, on a long‑term deal, dismissed earlier speculation about a move to Ferrari and laughed off rumours of astronomical salaries. Team boss Zak Brown, when pressed, defended Stella’s performance, saying he couldn’t be happier with the current leadership in the sport.

Verstappen praised the “rare chemistry” he shares with Lambiase, warning that finding a replacement will be difficult. Red Bull maintains Lambiase’s contract runs through the end of 2027, while McLaren continues talks to secure him. Both outfits acknowledge the stakes, and the engineering swap now sits at the centre of their 2026‑2027 planning for both teams.