Red Bull’s team principal, Laurent Mekane, has publicly suggested that Gianpiero Lambiase, the long‑time race engineer for Max Verstappen, is slated to become the team principal at McLaren. The speculation follows an earlier announcement made in March that Lambiase would leave his position as head of race engineering at Red Bull to assume a senior role at the British outfit.
At that time, McLaren indicated that Lambiase would be appointed as chief racing officer no later than 2028, a title that already exists within their hierarchy and is currently being shouldered by Andrea Stella alongside his duties as team principal. During the Miami Grand Prix – the first Formula 1 race of the season after the news broke – Mekane addressed the matter in an interview with Sky Sports F1.
He said that his current employee "is going to be a team principal" at McLaren, confirming the rumor that Lambiase’s next step will be a top‑level leadership position. When asked whether Lambiase’s departure was part of a broader trend of key personnel leaving Red Bull, Mekane responded without defensiveness. He acknowledged that the team has indeed seen a number of important figures move on over the past four or five years. "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," he said, adding that he is confident the organization will improve in that regard.
Mekane also emphasized that the move is not about a linear, trouble‑free path for Red Bull but rather about an "extraordinary opportunity" for Lambiase. "He is going to be a team principal there.
It's not something that I can do anything else than wishing him well," Mekane concluded. Red Bull later clarified to Sky Sports F1 that Mekane’s comments were not a misinterpretation; the team believes Lambiase will indeed become McLaren’s team principal. McLaren’s chief executive officer, Zak Brown, reacted to the statements by saying that Mekane "knows something I don’t".
After reviewing Mekane’s remarks, Brown said, "He knows something I don't, apparently. I've got one (a team principal), and I've got a great one. I got the best one in the pit lane in Andrea Stella. I couldn't be happier than (I am with) Andrea." Stella, who took over as McLaren team principal in December 2022, has overseen a remarkable resurgence for the Woking‑based team.
Under his stewardship, McLaren clinched back‑to‑back constructors' championships and secured a drivers' title for Lando Norris last season, marking a dramatic turnaround from the team’s earlier struggles. Brown explained his philosophy as CEO: "My job is to get 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 praised Stella’s performance, calling it "fantastic", and described Lambiase as a "huge talent".
Brown added that when a chance arises to strengthen the racing side of the organization – whether it be a driver, engineer, strategist, or any other role – McLaren will act decisively. "So, I'm very happy he's going to be joining us," Brown said. The exact timing of Lambiase’s transition remains uncertain.
While McLaren initially suggested the move could happen before 2028, they have expressed a desire to accelerate the process. Their statement about the hire noted that the chief racing officer role already exists and is currently managed by Andrea Stella in addition to his principal duties. They described Lambiase as "the latest hire designed 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." Beyond the personnel drama, the Miami weekend featured a full schedule of Formula 1 action.
The sprint weekend kicked off on Saturday, May 2, with an F2 sprint race at 2.55 pm, followed by a series of build‑up shows for the Miami GP sprint at 4 pm, 5 pm, and 6.30 pm. The main qualifying session took place later that evening, with a dedicated "Qualifying Notebook" segment. Sunday, May 3, offered the F2 feature race at 5.25 pm, a Grand Prix build‑up at 7 pm, and the Miami Grand Prix itself at 9 pm, followed by post‑race analysis and a "Chequered Flag" recap.
Fans were encouraged to watch the races live on Sky Sports F1, with the option to stream via the NOW platform without a long‑term contract. The coverage included additional Sky Sports Main Event broadcasts for key sessions.
In summary, the situation underscores a broader pattern of talent movement within Formula 1, where top engineers and strategists often transition between rival teams seeking new challenges. Lambiase’s potential promotion to McLaren team principal would mark a significant step up from his engineering role at Red Bull, reflecting both his personal ambition and McLaren’s strategy of bolstering its leadership cadre. While Red Bull continues to grapple with retaining its key staff, the organization remains confident that its culture and development pathways will keep it competitive.
Meanwhile, McLaren appears poised to integrate Lambiase’s expertise into its already successful framework, aiming to sustain the momentum generated by recent championship victories.