Red Bull identifies Tom Hart as Max Verstappen’s future race engineer after Gianpiero Lambiase exit – Red Bull Racing has reportedly selected long-serving engineer Tom Hart as the man to succeed Gianpiero Lambiase as Max Verstappen’s race engineer, with preparations for the transition expected to begin before the end of the 2026 Formula 1 season.
According to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Hart will take over the role following Lambiase’s confirmed departure to McLaren, ending one of Formula 1’s most successful engineer-driver partnerships.
The report claims Hart, who has been with Red Bull since 2012, will become the Dutch driver’s new “voice in his ear” from the 2027 campaign. Red Bull is also said to be planning test sessions later this season to help the pair build their working relationship ahead of the full handover.
Red Bull blocks Williams move to promote Tom Hart
Hart’s promotion reportedly became possible after Red Bull convinced him to remain with the Milton Keynes-based squad despite significant interest from Williams.
According to De Telegraaf, Hart had been engaged in lengthy discussions over a move to the Grove outfit and an agreement was believed to be close. However, Red Bull is said to have persuaded the performance engineer to stay, with the opportunity to replace Lambiase believed to have played a key role in the decision.
Hart has spent more than a decade within Red Bull’s engineering department and is viewed internally as a natural successor following years of working alongside the team’s race engineering group.
The appointment would ensure continuity as Red Bull reshapes its technical structure following a series of high-profile personnel changes in recent seasons.
Transition expected to begin before the 2027 season
Although Lambiase is expected to remain at Red Bull through the 2027 season before joining McLaren, his future move reportedly means he is already being gradually removed from sensitive long-term development projects.
De Telegraaf reports that Hart could begin undertaking race engineering duties during selected sessions later this year, allowing Verstappen and his prospective new engineer to establish communication before the official transition.
Lambiase has been one of the defining figures behind Verstappen’s success, overseeing countless victories and championship campaigns while becoming renowned for the pair’s sometimes fiery but highly effective radio exchanges.
Replacing that relationship will represent one of the biggest internal changes Red Bull has faced in recent years.
Verstappen’s own future remains unresolved
While Red Bull may have identified Lambiase’s successor, the biggest unanswered question remains whether Hart will ultimately serve as Verstappen’s race engineer.
The four-time world champion has yet to publicly commit his long-term future to Red Bull beyond the current regulations, with speculation continuing over potential interest from rival teams after the 2026 season.
Should Verstappen remain with Red Bull, Hart appears set to inherit one of Formula 1’s highest-profile engineering roles. If the Dutchman were to leave, however, the team could instead pair Hart with another driver as Red Bull enters Formula 1’s next competitive era.
For now, Red Bull’s reported succession plan suggests the team is preparing well in advance for life after one of the sport’s most successful engineer-driver partnerships, ensuring any transition is as seamless as possible while uncertainty continues over Verstappen’s own future.
If Hart assumes the position as expected, he will face immediate pressure to maintain the communication, trust and strategic understanding that have underpinned one of Formula 1’s most successful collaborations. A very tall order indeed.
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