Max Verstappen has confirmed he gave his blessing for his closest lieutenant Gianpiero Lambiase to leave Red Bull.
It was announced earlier this month that the Dutchman would lose Lambiase to rivals McLaren.
His race engineer, known as ‘GP’, will take up his new position following a period of gardening leave at Red Bull.
The pair’s close relationship is known to the watching public through their friendly, occasionally fractious, but always deeply respectful, exchanges over the radio.
Speaking at an event in Amsterdam, Verstappen revealed that Lambiase had sought his permission to take the lucrative offer from McLaren.
‘He told me what kind of offer he received. I said: “you would be stupid not to do that”,’ Verstappen said, as reported by De Telegraaf.
‘We have already achieved everything together and then he gets such a great offer, also with his family in mind and the security it would give him.
‘He asked me for a sort of permission and I said that he absolutely had to do it.
‘He really wanted to hear that from me.’
Daily Mail Sport had previously reported that Verstappen was supportive of Lambiase’s desire to take on a new role and to secure his financial security elsewhere.
Lambiase’s upcoming departure is not expected to have any immediate implications on Verstappen’s future.
Verstappen did not rule out working with Lambiase again, but suggested this could be outside Formula One.
Lambiase, who joined Red Bull 11 years ago and struck up a strong bond with Verstappen, will become McLaren’s chief racing officer and report into team principal Andrea Stella.
‘The role of the Chief Racing Officer already exists within the team’s structure, with overall leadership of the race team,’ a McLaren statement read earlier this month.
‘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.
‘The team’s ability to attract and secure top talent, like Lambiase, and previously Rob Marshall and Will Courtenay, alongside the retention and promotion of highly-talented people already within the team, is a testament to the strategic vision and culture that are integrally embodied in the McLaren Mastercard F1 Team under the leadership of Zak Brown and Andrea Stella, who are also both on long-term contracts.
‘The team look forward to welcoming Gianpiero Lambiase when his existing contract ends, no later than 2028.’
