Why the Austrian GP could change everything for Max Verstappen

He has been the voice in Verstappen’s ear throughout his entire Red Bull Racing career

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.

Max Verstappen must navigate his first F1 race without one of his closest allies in AustriaCredit: EPA

Verstappen’s chief engineer Gianpiero Lambiase will miss his first F1 race since 2016 for personal reasonsCredit: 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.

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.

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.