With Gianpiero Lambiase confirmed to join McLaren in 2028, the F1 paddock is buzzing: will Max Verstappen, pictured, eventually follow his most trusted ally to Woking? Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
The recent departure of Max Verstappen's lead engineer Giapiero Labiase from Red Bull has once again fired speculation about his future. This time, McLaren are at the centre of those rumours.
The shock decision by Gianpiero Lambiase to leave Red Bull Racing has done more than unsettle the former champions, it has reignited long-standing questions about where Max Verstappen sees his future in Formula One.
Lambiase has been a central figure in Verstappen’s rise, acting as both race engineer and trusted voice during the Dutchman’s dominant run at Red Bull. Their relationship, built over nearly a decade, has often been cited as one of the strongest driver-engineer pairings on the grid.
With that partnership now set to end, even if not immediately, the sense of stability around Verstappen’s camp has shifted. Into that uncertainty steps McLaren, a team on the rise and increasingly viewed as a long-term contender.
McLaren’s recent progress, coupled with its aggressive recruitment strategy, has placed it firmly in the conversation should Verstappen ever consider a move.
However, such a scenario is far from straightforward. McLaren already boasts one of the strongest driver line-ups on the grid in Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri. Norris, now firmly established as the team’s leading figure, would be an unlikely casualty in any reshuffle. That leaves Piastri as the more vulnerable option, despite his rapid development and growing reputation.
Complicating matters further is the presence of Mark Webber, who manages Piastri and is understood to be protective of his driver’s standing within the team.
Any move that threatens Piastri’s seat would likely create internal tension, adding another layer of complexity to an already delicate situation.
From Verstappen’s perspective, a switch to McLaren would represent both risk and opportunity. On one hand, it would mean leaving behind the structure that delivered multiple world titles.
On the other, it could offer a fresh challenge within a team that appears to be building toward sustained success in the sport’s next regulatory era. For now, there is no confirmation that Verstappen intends to leave Red Bull, nor that McLaren is actively pursuing such a move.
Contracts, performance clauses and timing all play a crucial role in shaping any potential transfer. Yet, in F1, major shifts often begin as rumours and then morph into contracts.
Jehran Naidoo is sports reporter for Independent Media and social media coordinator of the our YouTube channel The Clutch.