You can see McLaren’s hopes for Gianpiero Lambiase arrive sooner than its published schedule. Zak Brown now points to a possible team role next year. That hope does not yet confirm a new start date.
McLaren says it expects Gianpiero Lambiase to join its Formula 1 operation no later than 2028. Brown’s latest comments suggest the newly stated 2027 hope could bring that date forward. His remarks follow the team’s earlier announcement, detailed in this report on the planned Red Bull departure.
McLaren’s Lambiase move timeline
Brown’s latest comments point to a 2027 arrival, but do not alter McLaren’s formal announcement. Earlier, McLaren said Lambiase would join no later than 2028. It named him chief racing officer, with Andrea Stella as his superior. The public timeline still leaves room for an earlier start, not a confirmed date.
Brown told Sky F1 he felt optimistic Lambiase could wear papaya next year. That remark signals hope, not an agreed early release from Red Bull. Red Bull previously tied his exit to the end of his current contract in 2028. The move timeline therefore stays open until both teams confirm a change.
Why Lambiase’s role matters to McLaren
Lambiase became Max Verstappen’s race engineer at Red Bull in 2016. Their partnership ranks among Formula 1’s most successful, according to the supplied report. That history makes the McLaren team a high-profile addition if his career move proceeds. Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies has disputed McLaren’s stated job description.
Mekies believes Lambiase will take the team principal role, rather than chief racing officer. McLaren’s announcement instead places him under Stella. The distinction matters as fans assess the F1 personnel shift and its likely effect. This look at Red Bull’s race strategy shows the demanding work behind that partnership.
McLaren’s wider plans and 2027 hopes
McLaren’s 2026 campaign has been difficult, with its form slipping after three mid-season wins. Brown said the team had fallen behind in the pecking order, despite gains after a tough start. He also described the team’s current position as healthier than earlier in the year. That progress shapes the setting for Lambiase’s possible arrival.
McLaren plans to enter the World Endurance Championship next year, while its IndyCar team continues. Brown praised the staff at the factory and said more work remains. His comments frame Lambiase’s career move within broader plans across the team’s motorsport programme. For fans, the immediate point is clear: Brown hopes to see him in papaya in 2027.
For context on the engineer’s Red Bull tenure, this report on Verstappen and his engineer covers the wider team story.
