Max Verstappen Engineer Gianpiero Lambiase ‘Shut Out’ at Red Bull Amid McLaren Move: Report

Fresh questions have emerged over Red Bull’s internal dynamics after a report claimed Max Verstappen’s long-time race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase is increasingly being excluded from key technical discussions ahead of his expected departure from the team.

According to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Lambiase’s planned move to McLaren by 2028 has created an uncomfortable situation inside Red Bull, with concerns over the flow of sensitive technical information as Verstappen’s future also remains the subject of speculation.

Report claims Pierre Waché is limiting information shared with Gianpiero Lambiase

The report alleges Red Bull technical director Pierre Waché is no longer sharing all technical information with Lambiase because of his future switch to a rival team.

According to De Telegraaf, there is a feeling within Red Bull that the team’s current era is drawing to a close, with Lambiase’s impending exit altering relationships behind the scenes.

The publication claims Lambiase, who has worked alongside Verstappen since the Dutchman joined Red Bull in 2016 and also serves as Head of Racing, is being “shut out” to minimise the risk of confidential information eventually reaching McLaren.

Neither Red Bull nor Lambiase has publicly commented on the claims.

Max Verstappen Silverstone frustration has intensified scrutiny

The report comes after another difficult weekend for Red Bull at the British Grand Prix.

Verstappen retired after suffering a second consecutive rear-wing-related issue, having also encountered aerodynamic problems during the Austrian Grand Prix weekend. Following the race, the four-time world champion admitted he had expected similar issues before the start.

“I would really have liked to start from the pit lane, because in the race it’s just the same problem again and again

“I said: ‘Then we’ll just see it happen again in the race.’ And that’s exactly what happened again.”

His frustration continued after the race when asked to look ahead to the next round.

“I don’t want anything to do with it right now.”

Max Verstappen Red Bull future remains under the spotlight

The latest speculation also arrives against the backdrop of continued uncertainty over Verstappen’s long-term future.

Multiple reports have suggested the Dutchman has performance-related clauses in his Red Bull contract, although the precise terms have not been publicly confirmed. *De Telegraaf* reports that Verstappen’s growing deficit in the Drivers’ Championship could affect those provisions, although neither the driver nor Red Bull has confirmed the existence or activation criteria of any such clause.

That uncertainty, combined with Red Bull’s recent reliability concerns and reports of internal tension, has inevitably fuelled speculation over the team’s direction beyond the current season.

Red Bull yet to respond to latest reports

For now, the claims surrounding Lambiase remain unverified beyond De Telegraaf’s reporting, and there has been no official response from Red Bull, Waché or Lambiase.

However, the timing is significant. Red Bull are already investigating the rear-wing failures that have affected Verstappen in successive race weekends, while broader questions continue to surround the team’s competitiveness and stability.

If the reported tensions are accurate, they would add another layer of complexity to a period in which Red Bull are facing increasing pressure both on and off the track.