Aston Martin Reportedly Targets Red Bull's Gianpiero Lambiase for Top Role
Gianpiero Lambiase, Max Verstappen's long-time race engineer, is reportedly being courted by Aston Martin for a senior management role. This potential move could reunite him with Adrian Newey and dismantle the core partnership behind Red Bull's recent dominance.
Aston Martin is reportedly pursuing Gianpiero Lambiase, Max Verstappen's long-time race engineer at Red Bull, for a top management position. This potential move would reunite one of F1's most successful driver-engineer pairings with Adrian Newey and could dismantle the core partnership behind Red Bull's recent dominance.
Why it matters:
Lambiase isn't just an engineer; he's the "Verstappen whisperer," a critical component in the driver-team synergy that has delivered multiple championships. For Aston Martin, securing him would be a major coup, pairing Newey's design genius for the 2026 era with a proven leader capable of managing a team and a top driver, effectively building a "dream team" to challenge for titles.
The details:
- The role at Aston Martin is believed to be a high-level management position, potentially Team Principal or CEO, allowing Adrian Newey to focus purely on the 2026 car design as he prefers.
- Speculation intensified after a poignant radio exchange at the Abu Dhabi GP, where Verstappen told Lambiase, "We showed them one final time who's boss."
- If Lambiase departs, Red Bull is expected to promote Simon Rennie, who has previously deputized for GP during race weekends.
- This move is part of a broader strategy by Lawrence Stroll to build a championship-contending outfit by poaching key personnel from his main rivals.
What's next:
The coming weeks will be crucial as Red Bull is expected to fight tooth and nail to retain a key member of their championship-winning squad. Lambiase's decision will have a seismic impact on the 2026 title ambitions of both teams, potentially shifting the balance of power before the new regulations even begin.