Helmut Marko, Red Bull Ring's new ambassador, says Max Verstappen & Gianpiero Lambiase are an old married couple

Marko himself announced his retirement from his role within Red Bull that lasted almost 20 years, where he oversaw the Formula 1 junior driver program and had a say in the decision-making process regarding drivers across Red Bull Racing and their junior team, Racing Bulls.

The announcement came after the 2025 season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix when Verstappen lost out on a fifth title to McLaren's Lando Norris by two points.

Fast forward a few months, and the staff hemorrhage at Red Bull Racing continues as Lambiase, Verstappen's long-serving race engineer, is leaving to McLaren once his current contract with Red Bull Racing is over.

Marko, who has recently taken on the role of ambassador for the Red Bull Ring, which hosts the Austrian Grand Prix, commented on Lambiase's exit.

He said: “It was like an old married couple; those two had their discussions and disputes as well.

“But GP, as we call him, was a very essential factor in vehicle development and car set-up. He also went his own way at times, not always in agreement with the rest of the technical crew," he explained.

Lambiase's departure has increased the speculation regarding Verstappen's future, who is yet to decide whether he will remain with Red Bull Racing, let alone F1 as a whole, after being bitterly disappointed with the new-for-2026 regulations and his team's struggles not making matters any better.

And regardless if the Dutchman remains with the team or not, Laurent Mekies has an important decision to make to replace a key person like Lambiase.

But Marko believes that should not be an issue; he said: “It is certainly a significant loss in value, but a team like this is broadly positioned.

"One has to ensure that a young person is found in good time who can step into this role," the Austrian concluded. (Source: Austrian news agency APA)