Racing
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Giedo van der Garde believes Max Verstappen, not Gianpiero Lambiase, could be the first to leave Red Bull, arguing the team’s competitive slide has become the real trigger in the world champion’s future.
In a column for Formule 1 Magazine, the former Formula 1 driver said: “I’m putting my money on Max.” He tied that directly to Red Bull’s form, adding: “Red Bull doesn’t have its affairs in order, and Max wants a car with which he can win races and titles. It’s that simple. I also think that Max will take the next step after this season.”
That is a striking reading of the situation because Lambiase already has a defined exit. Verstappen’s long-time race engineer, the voice alongside him through four title-winning campaigns, is set to leave Red Bull after 2027 and join McLaren in a senior management role from 2028.
Van der Garde said he understands that move and does not see it as the central issue for Verstappen. He called the McLaren offer “a wonderful opportunity” for Lambiase and wrote: “If you can grow into the role of team boss at a top team like McLaren, then you have to grab that chance with both hands.” He added that Lambiase “deserves it wholeheartedly” and said the Verstappen camp shares that view after a partnership that delivered four championships.
He also argued Red Bull should keep the pairing together for as long as possible despite Lambiase’s planned switch to a direct rival. “Despite knowing that Lambiase is moving to a direct competitor, I believe he should be able to continue fulfilling his current role until the very last day,” van der Garde wrote. “He’s a valuable asset for the team and for Max. If Red Bull is sensible, it will keep that collaboration intact for as long as possible.”
The bigger question, in van der Garde’s view, is whether Red Bull can still give Verstappen the car he wants. In an interview with RacingNews365, he said it is “still far too early in the season” to make a final call because Red Bull could yet recover, as it has before, and suddenly hand Verstappen a car capable of winning races.
But he made clear that patience would have a limit. Van der Garde said Verstappen ultimately wants “the best car” to win championships and races, and warned: “But very honestly, if that doesn’t happen, then he has to look around.”
If it comes to that, van der Garde sees the obvious market at the front of the grid. He named Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren as realistic destinations, saying Ferrari is “a brand everyone naturally wants to race for” and “the team that has handled the new regulations well this year.” He also pointed to Mercedes as a leading option, while McLaren could offer familiar faces because several former Red Bull figures have moved there in recent years.
For now, van der Garde’s message is that Lambiase’s departure does not force an immediate decision. The more important test will be whether Red Bull can reverse its current trajectory quickly enough to convince Verstappen that his next titles can still be won in Milton Keynes.