Max Verstappen happy for Gianpiero Lambiase, says it won't be easy to replace him

Verstappen had Lambiase as his race engineer ever since he joined Red Bull Racing in 2016 and started their ultra-successful relationship with a win in Spain that year.

Many wins and four Formula 1  Drivers' Championships followed as the pair developed one of the tightest driver/engineer relationships the sport has ever seen.

But that story is set to end with Lambiase becoming another high-profile poach by McLaren from Red Bull Racing, with even Verstappen's future hanging in the balance given his discontent with the current rules, not to mention his team's dire situation so far in 2026.

Speaking to the media in Miami about Lambiase's exit, Verstappen said: "We had a good chat about that, and it would be stupid from my side to try and hold him back when you get an opportunity like that.

"I was very happy for him," the Dutchman insisted. "We are still working together this year, next year. Times change in your career, and that was a really good opportunity for him, so I'm happy for him, and as a team, we keep pushing together, keep looking forward. In the interests of the team for the future we are trying to find the best people to replace him."

Verstappen admitted his relationship with Lambiase was very special adding: "The general understanding that we have with each other and the chemistry works really well.

"That's very rare, I think, in racing. You don't see that often, a driver and engineer that gel that well together.

"That's, of course, something I'll have to try and find again. It's not that easy, but sometimes that happens," he maintained.

In terms of his own future, with his contract with Red Bull ending at the end of the 2028 season, Verstappen said: "I still have time, and I'm taking my ​time [making a decision]." (Reporting by Agnes Carlier)