Red Bull Faces Leadership Questions as Marko Hints at Exit, Lambiase's Role Uncertain

Red Bull's remarkable 2025 season recovery—from mid-year struggles to championship contention—now faces critical personnel questions. Helmut Marko, the 82-year-old advisor who discovered Max Verstappen, suggested his tenure may end after 2026 despite a signed contract, while race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase's future remains unclear following a personally difficult year that saw him miss two races.

Why it matters:

Marko's potential departure represents a pivotal moment for Red Bull's institutional knowledge. Having shaped Verstappen's career since 2015—overruling Mercedes' push for him to race in GP2—the Austrian's influence extends beyond driver development to technical direction. His exit would accelerate Red Bull's transition toward corporate leadership under parent company oversight, testing whether the team can maintain its competitive edge without its legendary talent scout.

The details:

• Marko's ambiguous stance: "It's not in doubt, but I will have a discussion and then I see what I do," Marko told Autosport post-Abu Dhabi, citing "a complex set of different things" behind his uncertainty. His original two-year contract includes 2026.
• Organizational shift: Team principal Laurent Mekies confirmed ongoing structural reviews: "Formula 1 is not a static environment... we always adjust our organisations." This follows Red Bull's increased corporate oversight this season.
• Lambiase's situation: The Italian race engineer appeared emotional post-race amid reports of "private circumstances" causing him to miss Austria and Belgium. Verstappen called it "an emotional year... it's been tough," emphasizing their friendship beyond professional ties.
• Role transition: While no decision is final, Lambiase may step back from race engineering duties to a senior trackside role if Red Bull finds suitable replacements—a move insiders say requires careful winter deliberation.

What's next:

Red Bull enters winter with two foundational figures at crossroads, though both scenarios reflect calculated succession planning rather than crisis. Marko's legacy is secure after delivering Verstappen's fifth title near-miss, but his departure would mark the end of an era where driver development trumped corporate protocol. For Lambiase, the team's approach—prioritizing "not making quick choices during difficult periods"—aligns with Verstappen's praise for his resilience.

The real test comes in 2026: Can Red Bull institutionalize Marko's instinctive talent spotting while maintaining Lambiase's race-day chemistry with Verstappen? With Mercedes and Ferrari closing the gap, any leadership transition must avoid disrupting the operational rhythm that turned Red Bull's season around. As Mekies noted, even "small" organizational tweaks now could determine whether the team regains its 2023 dominance or faces its first multi-year title drought since 2013.