Max Verstappen told Gianpiero Lambiase he would be stupid not to move to McLaren

Speaking at a VIA Play backed live event in Amsterdam, the four time Formula 1 World Champion divulged that Lambiase personally sought his approval before committing to the move, underlining the strength of a partnership that has defined Red Bull’s dominant era.

Verstappen said: “He told me what kind of offer he received. I said you would be stupid not to do that. We have already achieved everything together. And then he gets such a great offer.

"Also with his family in mind and the security it would give him. He asked me for a sort of permission and I said that he absolutely had to do it. He really wanted to hear that from me," Verstappen revealed.

McLaren signed Lambiase on a reported lucrative and long-term deal, clearly targeting him as a cornerstone figure in its long term technical structure of Zak Brown's team, alongside team principal Andrea Stella.

Lambiase has been central to Verstappen’s rise, overseeing race operations through multiple championship campaigns and forming one of the most effective driver engineer pairings on the grid. His departure marks a significant shift not only for Red Bull but for the competitive balance at the front.

Despite the confirmed split, Verstappen did not rule out working with Lambiase again in the future, although he indicated that any reunion may come outside Formula 1.

The Dutchman’s comments underline the depth of trust built over years of close collaboration, with Lambiase widely regarded as Verstappen’s key ally on the pit wall during Red Bull’s title winning run.

With McLaren continuing to strengthen its technical structure and Red Bull preparing for a major internal reshuffle, the long term impact of Lambiase’s departure is likely to extend well beyond a simple personnel change, particularly as the 2026 regulations era continues to reshape the competitive order.