- Marko believes GP’s departure could be a “significant loss” to Verstappen.
- He described them as an “old couple” and reflected on GP’s team responsibilities.
- GP will report to Andrea Stella at McLaren in 2028 (unless he moves to Ferrari).
Helmut Marko shared his thoughts on the recent hot news about Gianpiero Lambiase, head of racing at Red Bull and Max Verstappen’s engineer, who is set to leave the team in 2028.
He’ll be joining McLaren as chief racing engineer and will report directly to team principal, Andrea Stella.
GP’s Formula 1 career began in 2015, initially serving as a race engineer to Daniil Kvyat, who was later replaced by Max Verstappen.
He played a significant role in Verstappen’s career, not just by lending his engineering and technical expertise but also by being a trusted friend and guide in the champion’s path to success. With him being out, uncertainty also surrounds Verstappen’s future in F1, given he has been very vocal about no longer being able to enjoy the sport due to the new regulations.
Marko’s thoughts on GP’s departure
In a conversation with APA, Marko says GP’s departure is a “significant loss” for Verstappen. Sharing his thoughts on their strong bond, he added, “The two of them were like an old married couple. They had their arguments and disagreements, too.”
He then revealed that although GP was a great guide to Verstappen, his role extended beyond this role, as he was also involved in car development and setup. While he knows the team is large, he said that GP was an anchor for car-related matters. He added that Lambiase often followed his own approach, which at times did not fully align with the rest of the technical crew.
Red Bull and McLaren make major announcements
In an official statement, Red Bull confirmed that GP will be stepping away from his head of racing and engineer position in 2028, when his contract officially expires. During his remaining time at Red Bull, they are dedicated to bringing additional success and strong track results.
McLaren confirmed GP as a new hire to the team, shedding light on his new responsibilities. The statement read, “The role of the Chief Racing Officer already exists within the team’s structure with overall leadership of the race team. These duties are currently managed by Andrea Stella in addition to his role as Team Principal. Lambiase is the latest hire designed to strengthen and support the talent pool that exists at McLaren Mastercard, while also reaffirming the team’s long-term commitment to confirming its position as a Championship-winning team.”
While GP is set to report to Stella, some rumours attach McLaren’s team principal to a potential move at Ferrari, which could risk Fred Vasseur’s seat.
