Gianpiero Lambiase has worked with Max Verstappen ever since the Dutchman was promoted from Toro Rosso in 2016. The Italian-British race engineer has been by Verstappen’s side as Max won four consecutive world championships. They have created a mighty force together within the F1 paddock.
So far this season, it has not gone Max Verstappen’s way as he sits adrift of championship leader Oscar Piastri. Verstappen has suffered with a difficult car to drive and his frustrations have sometimes spilt into indiscipline. Further difficulties will now occur at the Austrian GP as Lambiase will be absent.
Max Verstappen will have a new race engineer for the Austrian GP
Gianpiero Lambiase and Max Verstappen are a well oiled machine that has brought much success to the driver and team. With this season shaping up to be a difficult one for Red Bull and their drivers, Verstappen could do without the disruption of his engineer of ten years being absent.
Lambiase will miss the Austrian GP due to ‘personal reasons’, although it is likely he will return for the British GP next weekend. But with Verstappen one penalty point away from a race ban and the championship looking to be sliding away from the Dutchman, who is replacing is key right-hand man?
A bit of Red Bull news…
Simon Rennie has replaced Gianpiero Lambiase as Max Verstappen’s race engineer this weekend #F1 #AustrianGP pic.twitter.com/DpHyrWfKnp
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 27, 2025
Simon Rennie will take over from Lambiase this weekend. He has history of being a race engineer and has been at Red Bull since 2013. Before joining the Milton Keynes-based team, Rennie was the race engineer Fernando Alonso once the Spaniard returned from McLaren, and for Kimi Raikkonen while the Finn drove for Lotus.
After transfering to Red Bull, Rennie was the race engineer for both Mark Webber and Daniel Ricciardo. Once Ricciardo left, Rennie opted for a factory tole in the team. Following a year out, Rennie joined the pitwall once again as the race engineer to Alex Albon.
Once Albon was replaced by Sergio Perez, Rennie stepped aside again and returned to working in the factory. It is likely Max Verstappen knows Rennie and has worked with him in Milton Keynes. Red Bull will hope the disruption doesn’t cost Verstappen more points to the McLarens.
