Gianpiero Lambiase will stay on as Max Verstappen’s race engineer at Red Bull Racing for the 2026 F1 season, continuing one of the sport’s most successful driver-engineer partnerships.
In December, speculation emerged regarding Lambiase making a possible move to a rival British-based team—most notably Aston Martin—where he was reportedly a candidate for a senior strategic or technical role. The reports came soon after one of Red Bull’s senior figures, Dr. Helmut Marko, confirmed he will be vacating his role as motorsport advisor and exiting F1 at the end of 2025.
However, as journalist Erik van Haren writes for De Telegraaf, there are currently no plans for a short-term exit. He clarified that Lambiase remains under contract with Red Bull until the end of 2027. “GP” is expected to remain active in his dual role as Verstappen’s race engineer and Red Bull’s Head of Racing.
Lambiase first joined the team in 2015, starting out as Daniil Kvyat’s race engineer. Verstappen became Lambiase’s new driver in early 2016, following Red Bull’s decision to replace Kvyat.
Since then, the pair have built a strong and enduring relationship on and off the track. As a result, they now rank among the most iconic driver‑engineer partnerships on the grid, with Lambiase guiding Verstappen to four world titles between 2021 and 2024.
Preparations for 2026 F1 car launch
Red Bull will unveil the livery of its 2026 F1 challenger on January 15, alongside its sister team, Racing Bulls. The launch will take place in Detroit, Michigan, marking the first chapter of Red Bull’s partnership with Ford.
Initial track running will begin with a private test session at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya from January 26–30, where teams will have a chance to evaluate their new machinery under the overhauled 2026 regulations without media or fan presence.
In February, teams will head to Bahrain for official pre-season testing, where they will take part in two rounds of public sessions. These sessions will be open to fans and televised globally ahead of the season opener in Melbourne on March 8.
