Gianpiero Lambiase will remain as Max Verstappen\u2019s race engineer at Red Bull for the F1 2026 season, PlanetF1.com understands.<\/p>\n
It comes after the highly respected engineer was linked with a move away from the team at the end of 2025.<\/p>\n
Gianpiero Lambiase to stay at Red Bull as Max Verstappen\u2019s race engineer<\/p>\n
Want more PlanetF1.com coverage? Add us as a preferred source on Google<\/a> to your favourites list for news you can trust<\/p>\n Lambiase has served as Verstappen\u2019s race engineer since the Dutchman joined Red Bull\u2019s senior team in May 2016, playing an instrumental role as Verstappen stormed to four consecutive world championships between 2021 and 2024.<\/p>\n Verstappen narrowly missed out on a fifth straight title in 2025, falling just two points short of McLaren driver Lando Norris.<\/p>\n Lambiase cut an emotional figure at the end of the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi and appeared to be sobbing on the pit wall at the chequered flag.<\/p>\n Go deeper: Understanding Red Bull driver Max Verstappen<\/p>\n Jos Verstappen: The F1 racer turned ruthless mentor behind Max Verstappen\u2019s supreme F1 talent<\/a><\/p>\n Revealed: The three rules introduced by the FIA because of Max Verstappen<\/a><\/p>\n Lambiase\u2019s reaction \u2013 in addition to Verstappen\u2019s post-race comment over team radio that \u201cwe showed them one final time who\u2019s boss\u201d \u2013 raised speculation that the 2025 season finale might prove to be the last race of their successful partnership.<\/p>\n Rumours circulated in December<\/a> that Lambiase was in negotiations with the Aston Martin team over a role at the level of team principal or chief executive.<\/p>\n However, PlanetF1.com has learned from sources close to the situation that Lambiase will remain in his current role of head of racing at Red Bull for 2026.<\/p>\n The news that Lambiase\u2019s position will remain unchanged will come as a boost to Verstappen as F1\u2019s new era \u2013 featuring sweeping rule changes to the chassis and engine \u2013 begins.<\/p>\n Red Bull will produce its own engines for the first time in F1 2026 via its newly established Powertrains division, which is working in collaboration with US manufacturer Ford.<\/p>\n As revealed by PlanetF1.com in October<\/a>, Red Bull and sister team Racing Bulls will unveil their new liveries for 2026 at a Ford season-launch event in Detroit next week.<\/p>\n Additional reporting by Mat Coch<\/p>\n Want to be the first to know exclusive information from the F1 paddock? Join our broadcast channel on WhatsApp<\/a> to get the scoop on the latest developments from our team of accredited journalists.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to the PlanetF1 YouTube channel<\/a> for exclusive features, hear from our paddock journalists with stories from the heart of Formula 1 and much more!<\/p>\n