Red Bull’s Max Verstappen will enter the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix weekend without his trusted race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, marking a significant disruption in his familiar team setup. The pairing of Verstappen and Lambiase has been one of the most recognizable partnerships in Formula 1 since their collaboration began during Verstappen’s debut with Red Bull in Spain, 2016.
Lambiase, an Anglo-Italian engineer, has played a crucial role in Verstappen’s rise to becoming a four-time F1 world champion, guiding the Dutch driver through many critical moments on track. However, as reported by de Telegraaf, the 44-year-old will miss the Belgian Grand Prix due to personal reasons, making this his second absence in just three races after also missing the Austrian Grand Prix.
In Lambiase’s place, Verstappen will once again work alongside Simon Rennie, who has previously served as Daniel Ricciardo’s race engineer during his time at the Milton Keynes-based Red Bull team. Verstappen hopes for a better result in Spa after his recent non-finish in Spielberg, aiming to regain momentum despite the setback.
At this point, it remains uncertain whether Lambiase will return for the Hungarian Grand Prix or only rejoin Verstappen after the summer break. The absence of such a vital member of the crew adds an element of unpredictability heading into the challenging Belgian circuit weekend.
Verstappen Discusses Stability Amid Changes in Red Bull Leadership
Aside from engineering challenges, Verstappen recently addressed questions about his future with Red Bull following the removal of Christian Horner as team principal and CEO. The 27-year-old reassured fans that Horner’s departure would not influence his commitment to the team.
“I don’t think it will matter at all for my decision in the future. The only thing that matters is that we work on the car and make it as fast as we can make it, really. The last one and a half years have not been what we want to be. Now we try and be more competitive this year, a little bit, but for sure also with the new regulations.” —Max Verstappen, Red Bull driver
Verstappen also shared his experiences working with the new team principal Laurent Mekies, highlighting the promising start to their partnership.
“Of course I already had quite a few meetings with Laurent as well. The last two weeks have been quite intense for him to jump in. We’ll keep that between ourselves, of course, but he’s incredibly motivated, and I like that.” —Max Verstappen, Red Bull driver
“You can see the fire. Of course, it’s new in the role, but it’s exciting. He’s a very nice guy, first of all, very clever guy. He’s been in different areas of the F1 paddock as well. And I think that can be helpful.” —Max Verstappen, Red Bull driver
Challenges Ahead at Spa Circuit for Verstappen
Max Verstappen has shown consistent speed at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit, securing the fastest Lap times for the past four years. Despite this, his efforts at the Belgian Grand Prix have often been hampered by engine penalties in the last three seasons, which prevented him from officially securing pole position.
As Verstappen faces the 2025 Belgian Grand Prix weekend without Lambiase, the challenge grows even greater. The loss of a familiar race engineer can disrupt the communication and strategy that Verstappen has relied on during his championship runs. However, his experience and the presence of Simon Rennie as a substitute provide some hope that the team can adapt quickly.
The outcome this weekend will be closely watched, not only for its impact on the championship but also as a test of Red Bull’s resilience amid leadership changes and technical staff absences. The Belgian Grand Prix often plays a pivotal role in the season, and Verstappen’s ability to overcome this setback could influence the trajectory of his title defense.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Did Max Verstappen apologize?
A. Christian Horner shared that Max Verstappen said sorry to the Red Bull team after crashing with George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix. The accident caused Verstappen to fall from 5th to 10th place because he received a 10-second penalty.
Q. What gender is Max Verstappen’s baby?
A. Verstappen and Piquet recently shared that they have a newborn daughter named Lily. They revealed the pregnancy before the 2024 season’s final race in Abu Dhabi. Little Lily is now a younger sister to Piquet’s older daughter, Penelope.
Q. Are Lando Norris and Max Verstappen still friends?
A. Yes, it was a big event. Despite their disagreements, Verstappen and Norris consistently claim they are still close friends.
