Latest news with #Lambiase
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Max Verstappen loses key ally for Belgian Grand Prix as Red Bull confirm replacement
Red Bull and Max Verstappen are already dealing with the absence of ousted team principal Christian Horner at Spa-Francorchamps and now the Dutchman is missing another familiar face Max Verstappen will have to make do without trusted race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase at this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix. It is the second race in three that the Red Bull head of race engineering has missed, having also been absent from last month's Austrian Grand Prix. Lambiase has served as race engineer to Verstappen throughout the Dutchman's entire career with Red Bull Racing. Despite their often heated radio exchanges, they have formed a tight bond and the four-time Formula 1 champion considers him one of his very closest allies in the paddock. A specific explanation for Lambiase's absence has not been given, beyond the team confirming he has not travelled for 'personal reasons'. Working in his place this weekend is Simon Rennie, who also filled in at the Austria race. Rennie has spent most of his time in recent years in a role back at the team's base in Milton Keynes. But he also has plenty of trackside experience as a race engineer in F1, having previously performed that role for former Verstappen team-mates Daniel Ricciardo and Alex Albon. They did not get much of a chance to test how they work together in Austria, given Verstappen was taken out on the first lap in Austrian by Kimi Antonelli. But the Dutchman was encouraged by how they had collaborated in practice and in qualifying before that. Verstappen said of working with Rennie at the Red Bull Ring: "I've known Simon for a long time on the other side of the garage and I'm working with him also in the simulator and he has a lot of experience anyway. He was straight on it and it was nice." Of course, Lambiase's is not the only familiar face and voice that is missing from the Red Bull garage at Spa-Francorchamps. For the first time in the team's entire F1 history, since it debuted on the grid in 2005, Christian Horner is not leading their charge trackside having been axed as team principal last week. Making his debut in the role is Horner's replacement, Laurent Mekies, who was promoted from the same role at junior squad Racing Bulls. The Frenchman spent much of his time in Milton Keynes anyway and so is already a familiar face to Red Bull Racing staff. That is certainly the case for Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda, who drove under Mekies at Racing Bulls until he was promoted to the top team earlier this year. "It will be good to link up again with Laurent," said the Japanese racer. "We worked really well together at Racing Bulls. I know how he likes to work and our full focus is on pushing forward and for me personally to start delivering the performance we need."
The Irish Sun
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
Max Verstappen set for major race change for first time in F1 career at Austrian Grand Prix
MAX VERSTAPPEN will be without his right-hand man for the first time in his Formula One career at the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend. The 27-year-old's long-serving race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase has not made the trip to the team's home race in Spielberg. 4 Max Verstappen must navigate his first F1 race without one of his closest allies in Austria Credit: EPA 4 Verstappen's chief engineer Gianpiero Lambiase will miss his first F1 race since 2016 for personal reasons Credit: Getty It will be the first time that Lambiase won't guide race since the Dutchman stepped up from Toro Rosso to Red Bull Racing in May 2016 . Also known simply as 'GP' in the paddock, Lambiase has been the voice in Verstappen's ear for every single one of his 219 races. Their relationship proved an instant success after Verstappen won on his debut at the Spanish Grand Prix to become the youngest race winner in F1 history. – Verstappen now pushing for what would be a record-equalling fifth successive championship crown. READ MORE F1 NEWS Lambiase was initially race engineer to Daniil Kvyat but, when the Russian was replaced mid-season by an 18-year-old Verstappen , he remained in the role . The Italian-British engineer, 44, will miss the Austrian Grand Prix, the 11th race of the season, for personal reasons , according to ESPN. In 2021, the Independent reported that In Lambiase's place comes Simon Rennie, an experienced Red Bull employee who previously served as a race engineer and is currently Group Leader of Simulation Engineering at the team. Most read in Motorsport CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Rennie,45, has plenty of experience in the role, having performed it for the likes of Fernando Alonso , Robert Kubica and Kimi Raikkonen at Renault. H e joined Red Bull in 2013, initially serving as race engineer to Mark Webber and then to before moving to a factory role in 2019. Max Verstappen goes for a spin around the upgraded F1 circuit at Zandvoort He is no stranger to temporary stints back at the track, having served as Alex Albon's race engineer in 2020 for a brief spell. Rennie is expected to fill in for just one weekend with Lambiase expected to return to his trackside duties at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone next weekend. Verstappen trails championship leader 4 Lambiase is the engineer in charge of all pit-to-car communication with Verstappen on his earpiece during the races 4
Scottish Sun
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
Max Verstappen set for major race change for first time in F1 career at Austrian Grand Prix
He has been the voice in Verstappen's ear throughout his entire He has been the voice in Verstappen's ear throughout his entire Red Bull Racing career STAPPED IN HIS TRACKS Max Verstappen set for major race change for first time in F1 career at Austrian Grand Prix MAX VERSTAPPEN will be without his right-hand man for the first time in his Formula One career at the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend. The 27-year-old's long-serving race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase has not made the trip to the team's home race in Spielberg. 4 Max Verstappen must navigate his first F1 race without one of his closest allies in Austria Credit: EPA 4 Verstappen's chief engineer Gianpiero Lambiase will miss his first F1 race since 2016 for personal reasons Credit: Getty It will be the first time that Lambiase won't guide Verstappen through a race since the Dutchman stepped up from Toro Rosso to Red Bull Racing in May 2016. Also known simply as 'GP' in the paddock, Lambiase has been the voice in Verstappen's ear for every single one of his 219 races. Their relationship proved an instant success after Verstappen won on his debut at the Spanish Grand Prix to become the youngest race winner in F1 history. Plenty of glory has been achieved together over the years, including four straight world titles – Verstappen now pushing for what would be a record-equalling fifth successive championship crown. READ MORE F1 NEWS I'VE GOT LEW Hamilton gives F1 rival lift on his private jet after he was booked on EasyJet Lambiase was initially race engineer to Daniil Kvyat but, when the Russian was replaced mid-season by an 18-year-old Verstappen, he remained in the role. The Italian-British engineer, 44, will miss the Austrian Grand Prix, the 11th race of the season, for personal reasons, according to ESPN. In 2021, the Independent reported that Verstappen suggested he'd QUIT F1 if Lambiase left the team, the pair coming up against fierce battles with Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes that year. In Lambiase's place comes Simon Rennie, an experienced Red Bull employee who previously served as a race engineer and is currently Group Leader of Simulation Engineering at the team. CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Rennie,45, has plenty of experience in the role, having performed it for the likes of Fernando Alonso, Robert Kubica and Kimi Raikkonen at Renault. He joined Red Bull in 2013, initially serving as race engineer to Mark Webber and then to Daniel Ricciardo before moving to a factory role in 2019. Max Verstappen goes for a spin around the upgraded F1 circuit at Zandvoort He is no stranger to temporary stints back at the track, having served as Alex Albon's race engineer in 2020 for a brief spell. Rennie is expected to fill in for just one weekend with Lambiase expected to return to his trackside duties at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone next weekend. Verstappen trails championship leader Oscar Piastri by 43 points ahead of Austria, with Mercedes reportedly keen on prizing him from Red Bull if he wants out. 4 Lambiase is the engineer in charge of all pit-to-car communication with Verstappen on his earpiece during the races
The Sun
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Max Verstappen set for major race change for first time in F1 career at Austrian Grand Prix
MAX VERSTAPPEN will be without his right-hand man for the first time in his Formula One career at the Austrian Grand Prix this weekend. The 27-year-old's long-serving race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase has not made the trip to the team's home race in Spielberg. 4 4 It will be the first time that Lambiase won't guide Verstappen through a race since the Dutchman stepped up from Toro Rosso to Red Bull Racingin May 2016. Also known simply as 'GP' in the paddock, Lambiase has been the voice in Verstappen's ear for every single one of his 219 races. Their relationship proved an instant success after Verstappen won on his debut at the Spanish Grand Prix to become the youngest race winner in F1 history. Plenty of glory has been achieved together over the years, including four straight world titles – Verstappen now pushing for what would be a record-equalling fifth successive championship crown. Lambiase was initially race engineer to Daniil Kvyat but, when the Russian was replaced mid-season by an 18-year-old Verstappen, he remained in the role. The Italian-British engineer, 44, will miss the Austrian Grand Prix, the 11th race of the season, for personal reasons, according to ESPN. In 2021, the Independent reported that Verstappen suggested he'd QUIT F1 if Lambiase left the team, the pair coming up against fierce battles with Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes that year. In Lambiase's place comes Simon Rennie, an experienced Red Bull employee who previously served as a race engineer and is currently Group Leader of Simulation Engineering at the team. Rennie,45, has plenty of experience in the role, having performed it for the likes of Fernando Alonso, Robert Kubica and Kimi Raikkonen at Renault. He joined Red Bull in 2013, initially serving as race engineer to Mark Webber and then to Daniel Ricciardo before moving to a factory role in 2019. Max Verstappen goes for a spin around the upgraded F1 circuit at Zandvoort He is no stranger to temporary stints back at the track, having served as Alex Albon's race engineer in 2020 for a brief spell. Rennie is expected to fill in for just one weekend with Lambiase expected to return to his trackside duties at the British Grand Prix at Silverstone next weekend. Verstappen trails championship leader Oscar Piastri by 43 points ahead of Austria, with Mercedes reportedly keen on prizing him from Red Bull if he wants out. 4 4
Daily Mirror
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Max Verstappen loses key ally at Austrian GP for first time in Red Bull career
Max Verstappen is used to having race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase always in his corner on a Grand Prix weekend, but will have to make do without his long-time ally in Austria Max Verstappen must navigate the Austrian Grand Prix weekend without one of his closest Formula 1 allies around to guide him. The Dutchman's long-serving race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase has, unusually, not made the trip to Spielberg. Lambiase has been the voice in Verstappen's ear throughout his entire Red Bull Racing career. Known colloquially in the F1 paddock as 'GP', he joined Red Bull in 2015 having spent more than a decade working for Force India, which he joined in 2005 when it was still competing as Jordan Grand Prix. We was initially race engineer to Daniil Kvyat but, when the Russian was replaced mid-season by a young Verstappen, he remained in the role. They have since formed a very close bond, Lambiase helping the Dutchman go from a teenage prodigy to a four-time F1 champion over the years. But he won't be able to help Verstappen in Austria this weekend. Lambiase has not travelled for the 11th event of the current F1 season, absent because of personal circumstances. It is the first time since Verstappen made the step up to the top Red Bull team during the 2016 season that Lambiase has missed a race. In his place, Simon Rennie will act as Verstappen's race engineer to help guide him through the Austrian GP weekend. Rennie has plenty of experience in the role, having performed it for the likes of Fernando Alonso, Robert Kubica and Kimi Raikkonen at Renault. He joined Red Bull in 2013, initially serving as race engineer to Mark Webber and then to Daniel Ricciardo before moving to a factory role in 2019. He is no stranger to temporary stints back at the track, having served as Alex Albon's race engineer in 2020 for a brief spell. Rennie is expected to fill in for just one weekend with Lambiase expected to return to his trackside duties at next Sunday's British Grand Prix. Part of Rennie's responsibilities will be to help Verstappen to stay out of trouble on track in Spielberg this weekend, with the Dutchman still walking a penalty points tightrope. He remains just one away from a race suspension, with two of the 11 points he currently has set to expire before the Silverstone race. Red Bull are introducing an upgrade package over the next two race weekends, which is set to be their last major effort of the season before they switch their full focus to their 2026 machine. If the upgrades do not put the car on equal footing with the dominant McLarens, then Verstappen's hopes of a successful title defence will surely be over. "Of course, I know that too," the 27-year-old said. "We'll see how much of a difference this upgrade package can actually make. There are a few races now where something is still possible, and then we'll see where we stand."
