Earlier this month, the world of Formula 1 was left reeling when the news broke that Max Verstappen's longtime race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, plans to leave Red Bull in 2028 to join McLaren.
The expectation is that he'll eventually become Team Principal, though his initial role within the current World Championship team will be "Head of Racing." His planned departure from Red Bull comes at a time when all signs point to Verstappen also leaving the Milton Keynes-based constructor, and potentially the sport as a whole.
Speaking at a Viaplay event in Amsterdam yesterday, Verstappen broke his silence on GP's decision to take on a new role within McLaren.
"He told me what kind of offer he received. I said, 'You would be stupid not to do that,'" the Dutchman revealed. "We have already achieved everything together. And then he gets such a great offer, also with his family in mind and the security it would give him."
"He asked me for a sort of permission, and I said that he absolutely had to do it. He really wanted to hear that from me," Verstappen continued. "Of course, I have a very good relationship with GP. And who knows, maybe in the future we will work together again outside of Formula 1. We are friends for life. We are still young."
"It was an incredible offer, and it provides security for his family. You have to take that into account, too. So I told him he had to do it 100%. And that is what he wanted to hear," the four-time Drivers' Champion recalled. "I don't begrudge him. And then you aren't so downcast. In terms of racing, you don't mind it so much, because we have achieved so much."
"I also can't say to him, 'No, I want to keep you here'. Everyone has their own dreams and goals," Verstappen concluded.
While there's speculation about the Red Bull driver potentially following GP to McLaren, these comments make it clear that they're not joined at the hip and Mercedes still seems like a far more realistic destination...if he decides to remain in F1.
That will hinge on how the sport's bosses decide to handle the unhappiness surrounding the current set of regulations. Verstappen has made it clear that, if things don't change heading into next year, he's ready and willing to leave Formula 1 in his rearview.
Stay tuned for updates as we have them.