GPblog understands that Gianpiero Lambiase is in line to become McLaren team principal from 2028, while Andrea Stella is rumored to make a return to Ferrari.With that double move, a major game of musical chairs kicks off at the top of Formula 1. With Lambiase, McLaren not only brings in an experienced engineer, but immediately promotes him to the role of team principal. Stella, meanwhile, departs Woking and will take on the same role at Ferrari, replacing Fred Vasseur.Lambiase to become team principal at McLaren, Stella departs for Ferrari?
His move had been in the air for some time, but the team principal role underlines the depth of McLaren’s confidence. In recent years, the team has already poached several key figures from Red Bull, including Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay, and is now extending that trend to the management level.
For Lambiase, it marks the next step after years at Red Bull Racing, where he became one of the team’s most crucial linchpins. The Briton has been Max Verstappen’s race engineer since 2016 and also serves as Head of Racing.
Photo: Race Pictures
For Red Bull, it is another sensitive departure. The organization had already lost names such as Adrian Newey, Jonathan Wheatley and Helmut Marko, while Christian Horner was replaced by Laurent Mekies.
For Verstappen, a lot will change in the long run. With Lambiase’s departure, he loses not only his engineer but also a confidant with whom he achieved all his successes. The two had worked together since his promotion to the senior team and formed a long-standing, established duo within Red Bull.
Lambiase is contracted to the team through the end of 2027 and will make the move to McLaren thereafter.
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