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Breaking: Red Bull’s Latest F1 Crisis Could Leave Max Verstappen Heartbroken
The iconic partnership between Max Verstappen and race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase is in danger of being broken up with the latter reportedly in consideration to replace Audi-bound Jonathan Wheatley in the sporting director role at Red Bull.
Wheatley – who has been a pivotal figure in Red Bull’s recent success – became the latest figure to leave the reigning champions when his departure was confirmed during the summer break.
The 57-year-old was one of the longest-serving members of the Milton Keynes-based outfit, having been with the team for 18 years, although he will at least see out the remainder of the 2024 campaign, unlike the Aston Martin-bound Adrian Newey. He will spend the first half of 2025 on gardening leave before joining Audi as team principal.
Discussing the options to replace Wheatley on the Sky Sports F1 podcast, pit lane reporter Ted Kravitz said: “Who will they get to replace him is the other question? Being such a valuable guy in terms of the rules and keeping a razor sharp race team, how will they divide it up?
“I can think of quite a few guys within Red Bull who were mechanics but have risen through to senior roles. Wheatley used to be a chief mechanic at Benetton. I can imagine those guys moving up, they know the rules as well.
“Some people have speculated that Gianpiero Lambiase might go into that sporting director role. I don’t think he wants to leave the cut and thrust, and the fun, of racing every week. That is fun, until it’s not. It’s fun winning races and championships. I’m not sure if GP wants to leave that.
“Red Bull will promote from within. They might get two people. A chief mechanic who will run the race team pit stops, and they’ll find someone who knows the rules well for the sporting director role.”
Should Lambiase step into the role vacated by Wheatley, it would bring an end to one of the most iconic relationships between a driver and race engineer in modern F1 history. The 43-year-old’s voice has been synonymous with Verstappen’s success throughout his Red Bull career.
This news would come as a heartbreaking blow to Verstappen, who has formed a unique understanding and system of communication with Lambiase. The pair are often likened to a ‘married couple’, due to their bickering over the team radio and the latter’s willingness to stand up to his driver’s occasionally spiky responses.
