Why Red Bull and McLaren met after comments on Lambiase

Why Red Bull and McLaren met after comments on Lambiase

Red Bull team principal Laurent Mekies spoke with McLaren CEO Zak Brown after comments about Gianpiero Lambiase’s future role in Formula 1. Following the announcement regarding Lambiase's move from Red Bull to McLaren in 2028, discussions about his new position quickly arose. Reports linked Lambiase, who is currently Max Verstappen’s race engineer, with a potential team principal position at McLaren, while current team boss Andrea Stella was speculated to be heading to Ferrari.

Ferrari dismissed the rumors concerning Stella, and McLaren clarified Lambiase’s future duties, stating he would serve as Chief Racing Officer, reporting to Team Principal Andrea Stella. However, during the Miami Grand Prix on May 7, Mekies sparked intrigue by suggesting on Sky Sports that Lambiase had an "extraordinary opportunity" and would become a team principal.

Brown reacted humorously, stating he was unaware of this potential change, emphasizing his satisfaction with Stella, calling him the best in the pitlane. This prompted Brown to visit Red Bull for discussions with Mekies and Red Bull GmbH managing director Oliver Mintzlaff.

After the Miami Grand Prix, Autosport inquired about the outcome of their conversation. Mekies joked that it was not about the rumors, saying, "He just wanted to taste the Red Bull!" However, he remarked more seriously that regular discussions occur among colleagues and expressed no desire to engage in speculating over positions.

Stella too addressed the swirling rumors regarding McLaren's leadership, expressing amusement over claims of astronomical salaries and imaginary contracts. He likened the current buzz to an early arrival of the 'silly season' in Formula 1, implying that envy brewed among competitors about McLaren's progress.

Meanwhile, as McLaren focuses on its own operational future, Mekies stated Red Bull intends to remain proactive in preparing for Lambiase's departure. He acknowledged the importance of retaining talent and indicated it was a priority to create an environment that attracts and nurtures skills within the team. Mekies confirmed that while internal promotions were preferred, Red Bull remained open to bringing in external talent as necessary, stating, "We will do it happily" should external recruitment be required.