Laurent Mekies, the team principal at Red Bull Racing, has publicly suggested that Gianpiero Lambiase – the long‑time race engineer for Max Verstappen – is on track to take the top job at McLaren. In March, Red Bull confirmed that Lambiase would be departing his role as head of race engineering to join the British outfit, where he was slated to assume the title of chief racing officer by no later than 2028. At the time, McLaren clarified that the chief racing officer position already existed within its hierarchy and that its responsibilities were being shouldered by Andrea Stella alongside his duties as team principal. During the Miami Grand Prix – the first Formula 1 race since the announcement – Mekies addressed the situation in an interview with Sky Sports F1.
He stated unequivocally that his former employee “is going to be a team principal” at McLaren. When pressed about the growing list of senior Red Bull staff who have left in recent years, Mekies responded without defensiveness: “We have lost quite a few key people in the last four, five years, it is very true.
We take it very seriously and everything we do is to try to make sure that we have the best environment to attract, to develop and to retain our people. I’m confident it’s an area we will succeed in.” He added, “Is it going to be a linear way to it with nobody leaving anymore? No. Lambiase had an extraordinary opportunity.
You know, he is going to be a team principal there. It’s not something that I can do anything else than wishing him well.” The comments initially sparked speculation about whether Mekies had been misquoted, but Red Bull later confirmed to Sky Sports F1 that the Frenchman truly believes Lambiase will step into the McLaren team‑principal role.
McLaren CEO Zak Brown, when presented with Mekies’ remarks, replied, “He knows something I don’t, apparently.” Brown went on to praise Andrea Stella, noting that the current team principal has already delivered a spectacular turnaround for the Woking squad, securing back‑to‑back constructors’ championships and a drivers’ title for Lando Norris in 2025. Brown emphasized his own responsibility as chief executive: “My job is to attract the best talent, think long‑term, and ensure we have the strongest people on the pit wall, in the factory, in design – whatever the case may be.” He continued, “Andrea has done a fantastic job, our technical team. Lambiase is a huge talent, so when the opportunity presented itself to strengthen our racing team, that’s exactly what we’re going to do – whether it’s a racing driver, an engineer, a strategist, whatever the case may be. So, I’m very happy he’s going to be joining us.” While the exact timing of Lambiase’s move remains uncertain, McLaren has expressed a desire to bring him on board before the 2028 deadline.
Their official statement explained that the chief racing officer role already exists within the team’s structure, with overall leadership of the race operation currently managed by Stella in addition to his principal duties. The hiring of Lambiase, they said, is intended to "strengthen and support the talent pool that exists at McLaren Mastercard, while also reaffirming the team’s long‑term commitment to confirming its position as a championship‑winning team." The broader context of these staffing changes reflects a wider trend in Formula 1, where top engineering and strategic talent frequently migrate between rival teams. Over the past five seasons, Red Bull has seen several high‑profile departures, including former technical director James Allison, chief aerodynamicist Dan Fallows, and now Lambiase. Each move has prompted discussions about the balance of knowledge transfer and competitive advantage.
McLaren, meanwhile, has been on an upward trajectory since Andrea Stella took the helm in December 2022. Under his leadership, the team has climbed from midfield obscurity to consistent front‑runner status, clinching consecutive constructors’ titles and delivering Lando Norris with his first world championship.
The addition of Lambiase is expected to further solidify McLaren’s race‑day operations, providing fresh perspectives on strategy, car set‑up, and driver‑engineer communication. Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see how Lambiase adapts to the broader responsibilities of a team principal, a role that extends far beyond engineering. He will need to manage relationships with drivers, oversee the performance of the pit crew, coordinate with the design and development departments, and serve as the public face of the team during press conferences and media events.
His experience working intimately with a double world champion like Verstappen should give him valuable insight into the pressures of delivering race‑winning performance under intense scrutiny. The Miami Grand Prix weekend itself featured a packed schedule, with Formula 2 sprint and feature races complementing the Formula 1 action.
Sky Sports F1 provided extensive coverage, including live streams, pre‑race build‑ups, qualifying analysis, and post‑race reaction shows. The event marked the continuation of the 2026 season, which had been on a brief hiatus due to the summer break. In summary, Laurent Mekies’ assertion that Gianpiero Lambiase is destined for the McLaren team‑principal chair underscores the fluid nature of talent movement in modern Formula 1.
While Red Bull acknowledges the loss, it remains confident in its ability to retain and develop top‑tier staff. McLaren, for its part, appears eager to integrate Lambiase’s expertise into its already successful framework, hoping that his arrival will help sustain the team’s championship ambitions for years to come.