Mekies insists: “Lambiase in McLaren to be team principal. The timing is none of my business”

From one team principal to another Formula 1 is back on track and one of the most curious controversies of the season is back: the one concerning the role that Giampiero Lambiase will have starting from the 2028 season in McLaren. The transfer of Max Verstappen’s current race engineer to Zak Brown’s court has already been made official several weeks ago, but debate continues in the paddock over the position that the Italian-English engineer will hold. McLaren has officially confirmed that Lambiase will be a sort of right-hand man to Andrea Stella, who will formally retain the role of team principal; the current Red Bull team principal, Laurent Mekies, however, insists on the fact that Lambiase will instead leave Milton Keynes precisely because he is attracted by the prospect of becoming the main manager of the papaya team in turn. “It is certainly my belief that GP (Lambiase’s nickname) is going to McLaren to become team principal – reiterated Mekies on Friday in Montreal, as reported by PlanetF1 website correspondent Thomas Maher – that’s what I told you at the time. Obviously, we had several conversations before he made the decision. Now, don’t ask me if it will happen. The timing is none of my business. I can only tell you the content of our conversations”, ruled the French manager. All that remains is to wait – even if it risks being a long wait, until 2028 – and see how McLaren’s organization chart will unfold once Lambiase actually becomes a member of the team.

Automobile Magazine – F1 English News , 2026-05-23 05:38:00