Max Verstappen ‘could get new race engineer’ as Gianpiero Lambiase’s tears explained | F1 | Sport

Gianpiero Lambiase, Max Verstappen’s long-serving race engineer, could reportedly step away from his current role and move into a different trackside position within the Red Bull F1 operation.

Lambiase has been Verstappen’s voice from the pit wall since the Dutchman was promoted to the Red Bull senior team in early 2016, and the duo have since formed one of F1’s most iconic driver-engineer relationships, reminiscent of Lewis Hamilton and Peter Bonnington’s pairing at Mercedes.

However, in 2026, the partnership could come to an end. This season, Lambiase missed races in Austria and Belgium due to personal reasons, which were also linked to his intense emotions on the Red Bull pit wall after Verstappen finished second in the World Championship, despite his win at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

According to Motorsport.com, Lambiase’s role within the Red Bull team for 2026 has not been finalised. The 45-year-old could reportedly take on a different trackside role, should Laurent Mekies find a new race engineer with whom Verstappen is comfortable working for the start of the new technical regulations.

After the race in Abu Dhabi, Lambiase was filmed in tears on the Red Bull pit wall with his head in his hands. Verstappen explained the emotion in the post-race press conference, expressing his sympathy for his colleague and close friend.

“It’s been an emotional year,” the four-time world champion said. “Forget about the results this year, and I don’t want to go too much into detail, but it’s been tough. But I’m very happy to be able to work with someone that passionate.

“Of course, he is my race engineer, but I see him as my friend. We have lived through so many emotional things together and fantastic achievements. I’m sure he was a bit emotional after the flag.

“So, I’m really looking forward to leaving here and catching up with him because it’s not been easy at times for him. I’m just very proud to be able to work with someone that good. A proper example of someone that never gave up this season, even through the difficult times.”

Lambiase isn’t the only key figure in Verstappen’s entourage whose future is uncertain after the Abu Dhabi GP. Helmut Marko could reportedly leave the team and retire from the sport at the end of the year, despite having a contract that will carry him through until the end of the 2026 season.

“Will you see me again next year? Well, we’ll have internal discussions, and we’re not in a hurry,” he told De Telegraaf. “During the years of team founder Dietrich Mateschitz, I didn’t even have a contract. It’s important to me that I feel comfortable.”