Laurent Mekies, the team principal at Red Bull, recently hinted that Gianpiero Lambiase – the long‑standing race engineer for Max Verstappen – is on track to become the next team principal at McLaren. The speculation follows Red Bull’s March announcement that Lambiase would leave his post as head of race engineering to join the British outfit as chief racing officer, a role slated to be filled no later than 2028. At the time of the original announcement, McLaren clarified that the chief racing officer position already existed within its hierarchy and that its duties were being shouldered by Andrea Stella alongside his responsibilities as team principal.
However, during the Miami Grand Prix – the first Formula 1 race after the news broke – Mekies told Sky Sports F1 that his former employee "is going to be a team principal" at McLaren, suggesting a promotion beyond the chief racing officer title. When asked whether Lambiase’s move was the latest in a string of high‑profile departures from Red Bull, Mekies responded without defensiveness: "We have lost quite a few key people in the last four or five years, that 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, develop and 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. He is going to be a team principal there.
It's not something I can do anything else than wish him well." Initially, some observers wondered if Mekies’ comments had been misinterpreted, but Red Bull later confirmed to Sky Sports F1 that the Frenchman indeed believes Lambiase will assume the McLaren team principal job. McLaren chief executive Zak Brown, when presented with Mekies’ remarks, quipped, "He knows something I don’t, apparently.
I have a great team principal already – Andrea Stella – and I couldn’t be happier with him." Stella, who took over as McLaren team principal in December 2022, has overseen a dramatic resurgence for the Woking‑based team. Under his leadership, McLaren secured back‑to‑back constructors’ championships and helped Lando Norris capture the drivers’ title last season.
Brown emphasized his own role as CEO: "My job is to attract the best talent, think long‑term, and build strength on the pit wall, in the factory, in design – wherever it matters. Andrea has done a fantastic job, and GP is a huge talent. When the opportunity arose to strengthen our racing team, we seized it – whether that means a driver, an engineer, a strategist, or any other key figure.
So I’m very happy he’s joining us." The exact timing of Lambiase’s transition remains unclear. McLaren has expressed a desire to bring him aboard before 2028, and its statement about the hire noted that the chief racing officer role already exists, with Andrea Stella currently juggling those duties alongside his principal responsibilities.
The statement added that Lambiase’s appointment is part of a broader strategy to bolster McLaren’s talent pool and reaffirm the team’s long‑term commitment to remaining a championship‑winning outfit. Beyond the personnel shuffle, the Miami weekend featured a packed schedule for fans. On Saturday, May 2, the program included the F2 Sprint at 2.55 pm, a build‑up show for the Miami GP Sprint at 4 pm, the sprint itself at 5 pm, and a series of analysis segments leading up to the Grand Prix qualifying session later in the evening.
Sunday, May 3, offered the F2 Feature Race at 5.25 pm, a pre‑race build‑up at 7 pm, the main Grand Prix at 9 pm, followed by post‑race reaction and commentary into the early hours. All of these events were available on Sky Sports F1, with the option to stream via NOW without a contract, allowing viewers to cancel at any time. The Miami Sprint weekend marked the resumption of the 2026 Formula 1 season, and the heightened attention on Lambiase’s potential promotion added an extra layer of intrigue to the proceedings.
In summary, while Red Bull has seen a number of senior staff depart over the past few years, the organization remains confident in its ability to cultivate a supportive environment that retains top talent. Meanwhile, McLaren appears eager to integrate Lambiase into its leadership structure, potentially elevating him from chief racing officer to full‑time team principal.
The move, if confirmed, would signal another significant shift in the competitive landscape of Formula 1, as both teams continue to jockey for strategic advantage ahead of the remaining races in the 2026 calendar.