P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Key Verstappen ally ‘in negotiations’ with another F1 team and it’s not Aston Martin
Max Verstappen’s F1 race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, is rumored to be in talks with Aston Martin after working with Verstappen since 2016 and overseeing his four world championships between 2021-2024. Following the close Abu Dhabi Grand Prix where Verstappen narrowly missed out on the 2025 title, Lambiase’s cryptic radio message hinted at potential changes.
Now, Lambiase is reportedly discussing a senior leadership role at Aston Martin, who have recently attracted design legend Adrian Newey from Red Bull. Other teams, such as Williams, are also interested in Lambiase, with negotiations ongoing with team principal James Vowles.
Williams, having finished fifth in the constructors’ championship in 2025 and with a strong driver lineup including Carlos Sainz and Alex Albon, are looking to build on their recent success under new regulations in 2026. Meanwhile, there is a significant transition happening at Red Bull, with key figures like Jonathan Wheatley, Christian Horner, and Helmut Marko moving on, signaling a new era for the team.
If Lambiase were to depart Red Bull, it would mark another big name exiting the team, further shaking up the F1 landscape. The potential changes in the teams and personnel has created buzz around the F1 headlines, as Verstappen’s warning and talks of a shock transfer keep fans on their toes.
