Gianpiero Lambiase has suggested that he would resign from his position at Red Bull if Max Verstappen were to leave the team. Lambiase has served as Verstappen’s race engineer since the latter joined the team as a teenager in 2016, initially working with Daniil Kvyat before continuing in his role when Verstappen replaced Kvyat mid-season. Together, they have secured three drivers’ titles. Despite occasional tense radio conversations, Lambiase and Verstappen share a strong bond and get along very well.
Lambiase has expressed that he cannot envision working with anyone else in the future, describing Verstappen as a younger brother.
“We have an open dialogue and can discuss anything or anyone at any given time. We’ve reached a point where we feel completely relaxed and comfortable with each other. Perhaps it’s presumptuous of me to say, but I don’t think I would have any inclination to work with another driver now.
“With the success we’ve experienced together with Max, collaborating with one of the sport’s greatest talents, I don’t believe it would be fair to another driver, from both their perspective and mine, to attempt to replicate what we’ve achieved with Max.
“This standpoint suggests that Lambiase would be open to leaving the team and joining Verstappen if the Dutchman were to move to a rival team. Although the 26-year-old has a contract until 2028 and continues to achieve victories with Red Bull, it appears there are still circumstances under which he would contemplate departing.”
Earlier this month, he stated that he would resign if his long-time ally Helmut Marko, the special adviser to Red Bull Racing, were to depart. Verstappen’s endorsement of the 80-year-old Austrian has bolstered his position amidst the ongoing internal conflict with team principal Christian Horner.
Marko and Horner have collaborated for nearly two decades, but their relationship deteriorated significantly towards the end of last year. Marko has been working towards ousting Horner from his role, but Horner enjoys the backing of Red Bull’s majority owner, Chalerm Yoodivhya, and now, the company’s CEOs in Salzburg.
