Max Verstappen’s F1 future unaffected by Lambiase leaving Red Bull
Max Verstappen’s decision regarding his Formula 1 future will not be influenced by the upcoming departure of his long-time race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase to McLaren, according to team principal Laurent Mekies.
Lambiase has worked alongside the Dutchman since he joined the Milton Keynes-based outfit in May 2016.
The highly respected engineer is scheduled to leave the reigning constructors’ champions to become McLaren’s chief racing officer by 2028 at the latest.
Mekies firmly dismissed suggestions that losing such a close ally would factor into the three-time world champion’s career plans.
Team dynamics and engine frustrations
The team executive emphasised the driver’s deep understanding of the sport and internal staff structures.
“Obviously, we speak with Max every day. And Max knows motorsport upside down.”
Mekies added that the 26-year-old lives and breathes the team environment and understands the natural turnover of successful personnel.
A more pressing concern for the championship leader has been his dissatisfaction with the behaviour of this year’s newly introduced hybrid power units.
The current regulations mandate a near equal split between internal combustion and electrical power, significantly altering the driving experience.
Miami Grand Prix rule adjustments
Minor regulatory changes have been introduced for this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix to address some immediate driver concerns.
These tweaks aim to allow flatter-out driving during qualifying sessions and reduce dangerous closing speeds between harvesting and deploying cars.
While acknowledging these changes will not alter the overall pecking order, Mekies welcomed the move as a positive step forward.
“Nobody pretends it’s going to fix everything, but it’s a good step, and we will certainly support more steps in the future so that the drivers can be flat-out out there.”
Push for long-term hardware changes
Looking further ahead, there is growing consensus among team bosses that more fundamental engineering adjustments are required.
Mekies expressed agreement with McLaren team principal Andrea Stella regarding the necessity of long-term hardware changes to the power units.
Stella has advocated for adjusting the power ratio to place less compromise on chassis design and overall drivability.
“There should be a consideration for some hardware changes, more for the longer term.”
High-level discussions are reportedly already under way among motorsport executives to address this fundamental issue.
The primary proposal under consideration would increase the internal combustion engine’s fuel-flow rate, shifting the power delivery ratio closer to 60:40 for next season.
