Max Verstappen's Future at Red Bull Uncertain Amidst Key Departures

The imminent departure of his race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, could also impact the future of Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen at Red Bull.

According to information from the portal F1-Insider, it is becoming increasingly clear that the Dutchman may no longer have a "future" with the British-Austrian racing team.

Yesterday, Thursday, the team announced that Verstappen's long-time race engineer, Lambiase, will leave Red Bull at the end of his contract in 2028 at the latest and move to rivals McLaren. There, the 45-year-old Italian-British engineer will take on the role of Chief Racing Officer.

With Verstappen losing another long-time confidant and companion after the departures of Head of Aerodynamics Adrian Newey (who moved to Aston Martin) and Motorsport Advisor Dr. Helmut Marko (who retired from Formula 1) – both having worked together since 2016 and achieving, among other things, four world championships – a swift departure is no longer unthinkable. The Dutchman could potentially utilize various clauses in his contract, which is actually valid until 2028, allowing him to leave Red Bull earlier. The report states that if Verstappen is not in at least third place in the championship standings by the summer break, he could leave the team at the end of the year thanks to an exit option.

Will Max Verstappen Move to Mercedes or Leave Formula 1?

This scenario is not unlikely, especially considering that the Red Bull car has not been particularly competitive in the first three races of the current season. So far, they are clearly the fourth-fastest team on the grid, behind Mercedes, Ferrari, and McLaren. Verstappen's best result to date was a sixth place at the season opener in Melbourne, Australia, placing him only ninth in the overall championship standings.

Furthermore, rumors have been circulating for months that the 28-year-old would like to leave the Bulls and either join another team or leave Formula 1 entirely. Mercedes has been frequently mentioned as a potential new employer, where, according to speculation, George Russell may not be as firmly entrenched.