(GMM) Christijan Albers has revealed that Aston Martin was among several teams chasing Gianpiero Lambiase (pictured), underlining just how sought-after Max Verstappen\u2019s race engineer has become.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course I called him,\u201d former driver Albers, who worked with the Briton earlier in his career, told De Telegraaf<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course I wanted to know how or what and of course there was more going on. A month or two ago we heard the rumors about Aston Martin.\u201d<\/p>\n According to Albers and fellow Dutchman and journalist Erik van Haren, Lambiase had multiple high-level options on the table \u2013 including a potential team principal role at Aston Martin, as well as interest from Williams.<\/p>\n \u201cFor him, this is the best opportunity,\u201d Albers said, referring to Lambiase\u2019s future move to McLaren.<\/p>\n \u201cHe also has to manage his own career. It is not only about the Formula 1 drivers but also about careers of team bosses, engineers, mechanics and, for example, this man.<\/p>\n \u201cYou always have to stay awake and see where the better options are for yourself. Everyone in Formula 1 has that drive, whether you\u2019re a driver or a mechanic.\u201d<\/p>\n Albers believes Lambiase ultimately made the right call in choosing McLaren.<\/p>\n \u201cThey all want to grow. It\u2019s just very simple. He got a chance. Since the rumors about Aston Martin, there has been quite a bit of rumbling. Other teams have also contacted him.\u201d<\/p>\n He added that even Verstappen\u2019s camp would have supported the decision.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can stick and be loyal to a driver,\u201d said Albers. \u201cHe is also very loyal to Max and I am sure they have also had consultations, but if such an opportunity passes by, then Max Verstappen and the people around him also give the advice to tackle such a great opportunity with both hands. He did that.\u201d<\/p>\n Albers also pointed out that Red Bull may not have been able to offer the same long-term pathway.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he can grow into a team boss. There\u2019s no such possibility at Red Bull, so you don\u2019t have to think long.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s really grown up at Red Bull, but you always keep looking back if you don\u2019t seize those opportunities. I think he made a super good choice.\u201d<\/p>\n The move has inevitably reignited speculation about Verstappen\u2019s own future, with Ralf Schumacher suggesting it could signal the Dutch driver\u2019s eventual exit.<\/p>\n But that view has been dismissed firmly by Verstappen\u2019s father.<\/p>\n \u201cRalf talks a lot of bullsh*t,\u201d Jos Verstappen wrote on social media.<\/p>\n