Red Bull’s team principal, Laurent Mekies, has hinted that Gianpiero Lambiase – the long‑time race engineer for Max Verstappen – is poised to step into the role of team principal at McLaren. The speculation follows an announcement made in March, when Red Bull confirmed that Lambiase would leave his post as head of race engineering to join the British outfit. McLaren initially described his new title as "chief racing officer," a position slated to be filled no later than 2028.
At the time, the team explained that the chief racing officer role already existed within its hierarchy and was being handled by Andrea Stella alongside his duties as team principal. During the Miami Grand Prix – the first race of the season after the news broke – Mekies addressed the topic with Sky Sports F1. He said that his employee "is going to be a team principal" at McLaren, reinforcing the notion that Lambiase’s move could be more than a simple engineering appointment. When pressed about the recent exodus of senior staff from Red Bull, Mekies responded without defensiveness, acknowledging that the team had lost several key figures over the past four or five years.
He emphasized Red Bull’s commitment to creating an environment that attracts, develops, and retains talent, expressing confidence that the organisation would eventually succeed in that endeavour. Mekies added, "Is it going to be a linear way to it with nobody leaving anymore? No.
GP (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." His remarks sparked a wave of commentary, with some observers initially wondering whether his words had been misinterpreted. Red Bull later clarified to Sky Sports F1 that Mekies indeed believes Lambiase will become McLaren’s team principal.
McLaren chief executive Zak Brown reacted to the speculation by saying that Mekies "knows something I don’t" when the Red Bull boss’s comments were brought to his attention. After reviewing the interview, Brown remarked, "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." Brown praised Stella’s performance since his appointment as McLaren team principal in December 2022, noting that the Woking-based team has enjoyed a remarkable resurgence, securing back‑to‑back constructors' championships and delivering a drivers' title for Lando Norris last season.
Brown continued, "My job as CEO is to get the best talent, to think long term, to have the most strength on pit wall or at the factory, in design, whatever the case may be. Andrea has done a fantastic job, our technical team. GP 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." The statement underscored McLaren’s strategy of bolstering its personnel pool to sustain its championship‑winning ambitions. While the exact timing of Lambiase’s transition remains uncertain, McLaren has signalled a desire to bring him aboard before 2028.
Their official announcement reiterated that the chief racing officer role already exists and is currently overseen by Andrea Stella in addition to his team‑principal duties. The hiring of Lambiase, according to McLaren, is intended to reinforce the talent base at McLaren Mastercard and reaffirm the team’s long‑term commitment to remaining a title‑contending outfit. Beyond the personnel drama, the Miami weekend featured a packed schedule for Formula 1 fans.
The event included an F2 sprint race, a sprint‑qualifying session, and the main Grand Prix, all broadcast on Sky Sports F1 and available for streaming via NOW. The Miami Grand Prix marked the start of the 2026 season’s sprint weekend, offering viewers a blend of high‑speed action and strategic intrigue.
In summary, Laurent Mekies’s comments have added another layer of speculation to the ongoing reshuffle of senior staff within Red Bull’s ranks. While Red Bull acknowledges the loss of several key figures, the organization remains focused on cultivating an environment that retains top talent. Meanwhile, McLaren appears eager to capitalize on the opportunity presented by Gianpiero Lambiase, potentially elevating him to the team‑principal seat and further strengthening its competitive edge. The coming months will reveal whether Lambiase indeed makes the leap to McLaren’s top leadership role, and how both teams will adapt to the shifting landscape of personnel in the high‑stakes world of Formula 1.