Does the announced departure of Gianpiero Lambiase mark the beginning of the end for Max Verstappen at Red Bull Racing? For Günther Steiner, the answer is clear: it should not be seen as a shock… but an inevitable cycle.
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Since 2016, Max Verstappen and Gianpiero Lambiase have formed one of the strongest duos in Formula 1. From their first collaboration, at the Spanish Grand Prix, the Dutchman won his very first race with Red Bull, launching an era of exceptional success.
But this relationship will end after 2027, when Lambiase joins McLaren. A decision that is part of a broader wave of departures within Red Bull, with key figures having already left the team in recent years.
Steiner downplays the shock
“In Formula 1, everything is cyclical. Everything eventually comes back. Red Bull has been at the top for a very long time, and some people want new challenges. Others know their value is at its peak today. If these people don’t leave now, they might have to wait for the team to become dominant again,” analyzes Günther Steiner.
“Today, Red Bull remains competitive, but they don’t win everything anymore. And when you’re no longer at the top, dynamics change. If some start to leave, others follow. The team can then gradually weaken. But that’s normal, it’s part of life. Nothing is eternal. All good things come to an end,” continues the former team principal of the Haas team.
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For Steiner, Red Bull’s current situation is nothing exceptional. All great teams have experienced these transition phases after a period of domination. The departure of major talents often occurs when their market value is highest.
Verstappen at the heart of uncertainties
This phenomenon creates a domino effect: once the first figures have left, others may be tempted to follow, accelerating the team’s transformation. A natural process… but rarely without sporting consequences.
While Steiner does not directly predict Verstappen’s departure, the context inevitably raises questions. Between technical changes, declining performance, and the loss of internal benchmarks, the environment around the quadruple world champion is rapidly evolving.
In this context, one certainty remains: in Formula 1, no domination lasts forever. And as Steiner reminds us, even the strongest alliances eventually transform.
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