Laurent Mekies, the team principal at Red Bull, has hinted that Gianpiero Lambiase, the current race engineer for Max Verstappen, is poised to step into the role of team principal at McLaren. The speculation follows a March announcement in which Red Bull confirmed Lambiase would depart his position as head of race engineering to join McLaren. The British outfit initially described his new title as "chief racing officer," a role slated to be filled no later than 2028.
At the time, McLaren clarified that the chief racing officer post 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 event after the news broke – Mekies addressed the matter with Sky Sports F1, stating unequivocally that his employee "is going to be a team principal" at McLaren. When asked whether Lambiase was the latest high‑profile departure from Red Bull 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 that the move was not a linear progression toward a staff‑free future, but rather an "extraordinary opportunity" for Lambiase, and that his only wish was for the engineer's success. The comments sparked a brief wave of uncertainty about whether Mekies had been misquoted.
Red Bull later confirmed to Sky Sports F1 that Mekies indeed believes Lambiase will become McLaren's team principal. McLaren CEO Zak Brown reacted with a touch of humor, saying, "He knows something I don't, apparently." Brown went on to praise Andrea Stella, noting that he already has a "great" team principal and that Stella is "the best one in the pit lane." He emphasized that his role as CEO is to recruit top talent across the organization, whether on the pit wall, in the design office, or elsewhere.
Stella's own tenure as McLaren team principal, which began in December 2022, has been marked by a dramatic turnaround. Under his leadership, the Woking‑based team captured back‑to‑back Constructors' Championships and secured a Drivers' Championship for Lando Norris in the previous season.
Brown highlighted that Lambiase is a "huge talent" and that bringing him into the senior racing hierarchy aligns with McLaren's strategy of strengthening its technical and operational staff. He reiterated that the club is always looking for the best engineers, strategists, and drivers to maintain its championship‑winning aspirations. While the exact timing of Lambiase's transition remains fluid, McLaren has expressed a desire to have him on board before the 2028 deadline. Their statement about the hire underscored that the chief racing officer role already exists within the team structure, with Andrea Stella currently covering those duties in addition to his principal responsibilities.
The announcement framed Lambiase's appointment as part of a broader effort to enrich McLaren's talent pool and reaffirm the team's long‑term commitment to competing at the highest level. Beyond the personnel shuffle, the Miami weekend featured a packed schedule of Formula 2 and Formula 1 action. On Saturday, May 2, the day began with an F2 Sprint at 2.55 pm, followed by a series of build‑up shows for the Miami GP Sprint, qualifying sessions, and commentary programs hosted by Ted. Sunday, May 3, continued with the F2 Feature Race at 5.25 pm, a pre‑Grand Prix build‑up, the main race at 9 pm, and post‑race analysis.
All events were broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event and streamed via the NOW platform, offering viewers a contract‑free, cancel‑anytime option. The broader context of these staffing moves reflects a shifting landscape in Formula 1, where top engineers and strategists are increasingly courted by rival teams seeking a competitive edge. Red Bull, despite its recent dominance, has seen several senior figures depart over the past few years, prompting the organization to double down on its talent‑retention programs. Mekies' comments, while supportive of Lambiase's career progression, also serve as a reminder that the sport's technical hierarchy is fluid and that success often hinges on the ability to attract and keep the brightest minds.
In summary, the consensus among both Red Bull and McLaren insiders is that Gianpiero Lambiase is set to assume a senior leadership position at McLaren, likely as team principal, sometime before 2028. The move underscores McLaren's ambition to build on its recent championship successes and highlights the ongoing talent war that defines modern Formula 1.
Fans can follow the developments throughout the remainder of the 2026 season, beginning with the high‑octane action in Miami, and anticipate further announcements as the teams finalize their technical line‑ups for the years ahead.