Verstappen’s race engineer is LEAVING Red Bull for McLaren… what happens next?
About this episode
Giampiero Lambiase—Max Verstappen’s long-time race engineer—reportedly leaving Red Bull for a huge McLaren deal starting 2028, potentially even team principal. Matt and Tommy connect the dots to a wider “domino effect,” including rumors that McLaren boss Andrea Stella could be headed to Ferrari. The hosts debate whether this signals anything about Verstappen’s future (they argue it doesn’t automatically mean he’s leaving F1) and discuss Red Bull’s talent-drain amid regulation struggles. They also answer listener questions on who might replace Lambiase and whether Lando Norris would move with Stella.
Max Verstappen’s race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase is set to join McLaren in a multimillion pound deal - but is that because their team principal Andrea Stella looks set to join Ferrari?!
We react to some seismic news that could signal the start of some big changes across the F1 paddock over the next few seasons. So what could GP be tasked with at McLaren? Are Red Bull in trouble? And what does this mean for Max Verstappen?
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Toyota Grand Highlander
"Toyota. With an adult-sized third row, everyone's welcome in the Grand Highlander."
This is Toyota’s bigger family SUV with three rows of seats. They’re saying the back seats are actually comfortable for adults, not just kids.
The Toyota Grand Highlander is a larger three-row SUV positioned as a family hauler with more interior space than the standard Highlander. In this segment, it’s mentioned as having an “adult-sized” third row, which is a key selling point for comfort on longer trips.
Toyota Sienna
"Seen back in the Sienna with an available rear seat entertainment system."
The Sienna is Toyota’s minivan. They’re highlighting that it can come with screens/entertainment for the back seats.
The Toyota Sienna is a minivan known for family-focused features and available tech aimed at keeping passengers comfortable. Here it’s referenced with an available rear seat entertainment system, which is a common minivan differentiator.
Red Bull
"Jampiera Lambiase, otherwise known as GP, is leaving Red Bull... which could see him not just joining, but becoming team principal, which is absolute madness."
Red Bull is an F1 team. They have a lot of influence in how cars are developed and how races are run, so losing a key engineer can matter a lot.
Red Bull is one of Formula One’s top teams and a major force in modern F1 engineering and driver development. The segment says race engineer Jampiera Lambiase (GP) is leaving Red Bull, which could reshape team roles and talent across the sport.
team principal
"...which could see him not just joining, but becoming team principal, which is absolute madness."
The team principal is basically the top boss of an F1 team. They help make the big decisions about how the team runs and who does what.
A team principal is the senior leader responsible for running an F1 team—overseeing strategy, management, and often major technical and personnel decisions. The segment highlights that the engineer could move into this role at McLaren, which would be a significant change in how the team is managed.
Giampiero Lambiasi
"So if you're unaware, you know, if you're new to Formula One or whatever, let me give you a little bit of a background of who Giampiero Lambiasi is. So basically, he is Max Verstappen's race engineer at Red Bull and has been since 2016."
Giampiero Lambiasi is the person who works closely with Max Verstappen during races. He helps turn what the driver feels into changes to the car and race plan.
Giampiero Lambiasi is Max Verstappen’s race engineer at Red Bull, a role that involves translating driver feedback into race strategy and car setup changes. In Formula 1, the race engineer is a key part of the team’s performance because they manage communication and technical decisions during sessions.
Andrea Stella
"...of course, Andrea Stella, who is the team principal of McLaren, there are rumours that he has already signed this pre-contract to go to Ferrari as team principal."
Andrea Stella is the top leader running McLaren’s F1 team. If he’s rumored to move to Ferrari, that’s a big deal because it changes who’s in charge.
Andrea Stella is the team principal of McLaren, responsible for high-level leadership, team direction, and major operational decisions. The transcript suggests rumors that he may be moving to Ferrari, which would be a major organizational change.
pre-contract
"...there are rumours that he has already signed this pre-contract to go to Ferrari as team principal. Now, of course, he has had a lovely tie with Ferrari in the past."
A pre-contract is an agreement signed ahead of the official start date, often to lock in future employment or leadership roles. In F1, these arrangements can become public through reporting and rumors, especially when teams are planning for the next season.
Williams
"[331.6s] because he is for me at all times? [333.6s] Well, because maybe they're not doing that. [336.6s] Oh, because Williams aren't doing so great. [338.0s] Okay, fair enough."
Williams is another Formula 1 team with a long history. The speaker is basically saying Williams hasn’t been performing as strongly, so certain names aren’t as top-of-mind.
Williams is a historic Formula 1 constructor that has experienced ups and downs over the years. In this segment, the speaker references Williams not doing well, as part of explaining why a particular engineer/team-principal figure isn’t on the forefront of their mind.
Formula One grid
"[366.4s] and take a really big role in a team. [368.9s] And McLaren have obviously seen that and like much of the Formula One grid and a lot recently"
The Formula One grid refers to the set of teams and cars competing in a season, and by extension the competitive landscape across the sport. The speaker uses it to point out that this engineering-to-leadership trend is showing up across many teams, not just one.
McLaren
"and particularly seems to be Red Bull losing a lot of people, you know, they've lost many to McLaren."
McLaren is a major Formula 1 racing team. If they bring in experienced people, it can help them make better cars and win more races.
McLaren is a top Formula 1 team known for strong engineering and race execution. The transcript frames McLaren as benefiting from staff hires, which can accelerate development and improve results.
Adrian Newey
"And then of course, you know, the everything of that whole team blowing up anyway with the Adrian Newey leaving"
Adrian Newey is one of the most famous technical minds in Formula 1. If he leaves a team, it can seriously change how that team designs and improves its race car.
Adrian Newey is a legendary Formula 1 technical designer known for aerodynamics and car development. The transcript links his departure to major performance and organizational changes at Red Bull.
Ferrari
"I'm almost wondering whether Andrea Stella has signed for Ferrari first, which has then led for McLaren to look for someone to replace him"
Ferrari is a famous Formula 1 team. If a top manager moves there, it can change who else teams recruit next.
Ferrari is one of Formula 1’s most historic and competitive teams. The transcript frames Ferrari as a potential destination for Andrea Stella, which would influence hiring strategy at McLaren and Red Bull.
aerodynamically
"he is phenomenal at creating, building a car aerodynamically just so so in tune."
Aerodynamics is how the car cuts through air. In F1, getting it right helps the car stick to the track and go faster without as much drag.
Aerodynamics in F1 refers to how airflow over the car affects downforce, drag, and stability. The transcript credits Newey with being exceptional at designing cars “aerodynamically” tuned to perform at the limit.
sustaining fuels
"unless we've torn them all up, put V10s in the back of them and go for sustaining fuels."
Sustaining fuels are fuels meant to be more environmentally friendly. If F1 switched to them, teams would have to adjust how the engine is tuned and how they plan fuel use.
“Sustaining fuels” is a reference to fuel types intended to meet sustainability goals while still being usable in F1 power units. The transcript treats it as part of a hypothetical rule overhaul, which would affect engine calibration and race strategy.
V10s
"unless we've torn them all up, put V10s in the back of them and go for sustaining fuels."
V10s means an engine with 10 cylinders arranged in a V shape. Changing to V10s would be a huge change because the whole car’s design and performance would need to adjust.
V10s refers to a V-shaped 10-cylinder engine configuration. The transcript speculates about replacing current power units with V10s, which would be a major technical shift affecting engine design, packaging, and how the car performs.
Zach Brown
"But he takes away, I guess he loves the spotlight. Let's not let's be real here."
Zach Brown is a top executive at McLaren. He’s often the person you see in interviews, while other leaders handle more of the day-to-day pressure.
Zach Brown is the CEO of McLaren and often serves as the team’s public face in interviews and media appearances. The transcript contrasts his spotlight role with the behind-the-scenes pressure that team leadership like Stella carries.
Drive to Survive
"Like, you know, we've seen the latest series of Drive to Survive. My guy loves the camera."
Drive to Survive is Netflix’s F1 documentary series that turned many fans into viewers by focusing on personalities, rivalries, and behind-the-scenes moments. The transcript suggests it can shift attention and perceived pressure by amplifying certain characters and storylines.
Lando
"And if he does go to a different team, does he bring Lando with him because he is out of contract at the end of 2027? ... I personally don't see Lando following him."
“Lando” refers to Lando Norris, a McLaren driver. The segment discusses contract timing (end of 2027) and whether Norris would follow an engineer to another team. It also argues that Norris’s decision is likely independent of Andrea Stella’s move.
Michael Schumacher
"...quite a cool thing for Andrea Stella to have been, you know, a race engineer, do some awesome things with Michael Schumacher at the end of his Ferrari tenure."
Michael Schumacher is a legendary Formula One driver whose career is closely associated with Ferrari’s modern success era. The segment references Schumacher to highlight Andrea Stella’s past engineering work during the late part of Schumacher’s Ferrari tenure. This is meant to establish credibility and the kind of performance environment Stella has experienced.
Fernando Alonso
"But then also Fernando Alonso to then leave the team and then come back and be in charge of the whole thing."
Fernando Alonso is a multi-time Formula One World Champion known for long-term competitiveness across different eras and teams. The segment mentions him in the context of team leadership and returning to a role “in charge,” illustrating how high-profile driver career moves can overlap with engineering leadership changes. It’s used as an example of a major “power move” narrative.
rear seat entertainment system
"From sports fans to eco buffs and movie fans, see back in the Sienna with an available rear seat entertainment system."
This is the entertainment setup for people sitting in the back—usually screens and audio. It’s meant to help keep kids (or anyone in back) occupied on trips.
A rear seat entertainment system is a factory or dealer-installed setup (often screens and audio) meant to keep passengers in the back occupied. It’s commonly offered on minivans and larger family vehicles as an option.
Toyota RAV4
"Slip into the RAV4 with available all-wheel drive and let's go."
The Toyota RAV4 is a compact SUV. They’re pointing out that you can get it with all-wheel drive for better grip.
The Toyota RAV4 is a compact crossover SUV that’s offered with different drivetrain options. This segment highlights the availability of all-wheel drive (AWD) for improved traction.
all-wheel drive
"Slip into the RAV4 with available all-wheel drive and let's go."
All-wheel drive means the car can send power to all four tires. That can help it grip better when roads are slippery.
All-wheel drive (AWD) sends power to all four wheels, which can improve traction in rain, snow, or loose surfaces. Many crossovers offer AWD as an option depending on trim and model year.
Max
"...when when he leaves, is Max going to want to like stick around and have a new engineer? Like what's the deal there?"
“Max” is Max Verstappen, one of the top drivers in Formula 1. If his engineer changes, it can affect how the car gets set up and how quickly the team can solve problems.
“Max” refers to Max Verstappen, Red Bull’s lead driver and the central figure in discussions about engineering staff changes. When a race engineer leaves, it can raise questions about how well the driver’s feedback and the team’s technical direction will align with the new pairing.
pit wall
"...we saw last year at the end of the season, he was crying on the pit wall. We were all questioning on what's going on there."
The pit wall is where the team watches the race and talks to the driver. If someone is visibly upset there, it usually means the team is under a lot of pressure.
The pit wall is the main spot on the pit lane where team leadership and engineers watch the race and communicate with the driver. Emotions or reactions there often reflect how tense or uncertain the team’s situation is—especially late in a season.
F1
"Is this confirmation that Max is leaving F1? No, this is not confirmation of Max leaving F1."
F1 is Formula 1, the highest level of open-wheel racing. Teams and drivers sign contracts, and when someone changes teams it can affect how well the whole team performs.
F1 refers to Formula 1, the top tier of open-wheel motorsport with teams, constructors, and drivers competing in a season of races. Driver-team relationships and contracts are a major storyline because they can reshape a team’s performance and strategy.
gardening leave
"...whether there's gardening leave and all this kind of stuff. So when he will actually go, we don't know yet."
Gardening leave is when someone is told to stay put for a while but can’t start the new job yet. It’s often used to protect the current employer’s interests.
“Gardening leave” is a contractual period where a person stays employed but is not allowed to work for a competitor. In F1, it can affect when a driver or engineer can officially start with a new team, even if the move is already agreed.
demotion
"[1673.8s] And they were like, no, we're not happy. [1675.5s] He'll take a demotion though, do you?"
A demotion is when you keep your job but get a less important position. In racing teams, that can happen if leadership wants to change who’s responsible for what.
A demotion means moving someone to a lower role rather than fully leaving the organization. In F1, that can happen when leadership changes or when a team wants to adjust responsibilities without severing ties completely.
team shake-ups
"The kind of shake-ups of team principles at the moment seems absolutely crazy. And is Horner going to come back?"
When people say “team shake-ups,” they mean big changes in who runs the team. In F1, that can change how the car is developed and how decisions get made on race day.
In Formula 1, “team shake-ups” usually means major staffing changes—like team principal or key technical leadership moving roles. These shifts can quickly affect how a team develops the car, manages race strategy, and communicates during weekends.
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