Max Verstappen assured Lambiase that it would be "stupid not to accept" McLaren's offer

Gianpiero Lambiase announced he was leaving Red Bull to join McLaren no later than 2028. The announcement of the transfer of the one who accompanies Max Verstappen His departure from Red Bull in 2016 could have created tension — but that wasn't the case. The four-time world champion explains that his engineer consulted him before making his decision, and his response was immediate: “He explained to me what the offer he’d received entailed. I told him, ‘You’d be stupid to refuse. We’ve already accomplished everything together.’ And then, he received a truly exceptional offer, which also took into account his family and the security it would provide. He asked for my opinion, and I told him to go for it 100%. That’s what he wanted to hear from me.”

This reaction speaks volumes about the relationship of mutual trust built between the two men over ten years and four world titles won together. However, Max Verstappen did not rule out a future collaboration with his teammate, while specifying that it could very well take place outside of the Formula 1This decision, combined with his recent statements about his future, takes on a particular resonance.

The Dutchman had indeed hinted in Japan a few weeks ago that retirement at the end of this season was a possibility. In Amsterdam, he did not deny this. His desire to permanently rekindle his interest in the sport is clear: "Something needs to change. In that case, I would choose to see the return of V10 or V8 engines." A strong signal, which illustrates the growing gap between the Red Bull driver and the direction taken by Formula 1 technically in recent years.

Verstappen wants to have an impact on the future of sport

From a regulatory standpoint, Verstappen is participating in ongoing discussions with Formula 1 management and the FIA, and is not mincing words about the current state of affairs: "The mere fact that we're discussing it is already progress. The problem is that while these regulations can certainly be slightly modified, there's something fundamentally wrong. Not everyone will openly admit it, but that's the case nonetheless." He clarifies that he regularly makes his voice heard internally, not only to defend his own interests, but with a broader vision: "Even if I retire in a few years, I want this sport to remain respectable."

This involvement in regulatory debates reveals a lesser-known side of Verstappen—who seems largely indifferent to public opinion—that of a driver reflecting on his legacy to the sport, beyond his own performance. In addition to these regulatory discussions and this stated desire to influence the sport's future, Gianpiero Lambiase's departure further reinforces the impression of a turning point in Max Verstappen's trajectory. While the Dutchman remains ambiguous about his future, his race engineer has already secured his next steps.

Lambiase therefore has a long-term exit strategy, both professionally and personally. This gradual separation of their paths does not, for the time being, preclude an unbroken collaboration, which will continue until the end of the 2027 season at the latest—unless one or both of them decide to leave earlier. But before all that, Max Verstappen and Gianpiero Lambiase will reunite on the track at the Miami Grand Prix, from May 1st to 3rd.

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