Max Verstappen has made official the arrival of Tom Hart as future race engineer, set to succeed Gianpiero Lambiase at Red Bull.
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The suspense is now over. Max Verstappen has confirmed that Tom Hart will become his future race engineer at Red Bull, putting an end to the speculation that had emerged in the paddock in recent days.
This announcement comes as Gianpiero Lambiase, better known as “GP”, is gradually preparing to step down from his duties with the four-time world champion. A true confidant of Verstappen since his arrival at Red Bull, Lambiase has formed one of the most emblematic duos in modern Formula 1 with the Dutchman.
His departure, expected no later than 2028, forced the Milton Keynes team to prepare for his succession. The choice ultimately fell on Tom Hart, already well known within the team.
Tom Hart promoted after several years alongside Verstappen
Until now Verstappen’s performance engineer, Hart has been working in the world champion’s immediate entourage for several seasons.
Once rumored to be leaving for Williams, the Briton ultimately chose to stay at Red Bull to take on a new challenge. The first rumors of a promotion appeared during the Belgian Grand Prix, before being officially confirmed by Verstappen himself.
“Ultimately, we knew GP was going to leave. So we thought long and hard about what we wanted to do. I felt that Tom really wanted to stay, but in a different role.”
The Red Bull driver explains that discussions began several months ago, long before the decision was made public.
“Around Miami, we started discussing different possibilities. I quickly felt that he was enthusiastic about the idea. We just need to determine the right time to involve him more.”
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More than just an engineer
For Verstappen, the skills sought in a race engineer are not limited to mastering technical aspects.
The Dutchman believes that understanding the race and the ability to quickly interpret situations are just as essential as engineering knowledge.
“There are a lot of very good engineers, but I always thought you shouldn’t just be a technician.”
Verstappen also insists on the importance of having a true vision of the competition.
“You have to understand the race itself. Looking at a laptop, I can do that myself. What you need is the ability to analyze situations correctly, as GP does so well.”
A transition that will be gradual
While Tom Hart is now confirmed as Verstappen’s future race engineer, Red Bull has not yet specified the exact date of his taking office.
Gianpiero Lambiase will therefore continue to accompany the four-time world champion immediately, while a smooth transition is organized.
This evolution nevertheless marks an important turning point for Red Bull. After sharing more than a decade of success with Lambiase, Verstappen is preparing to open a new chapter in his career with an already familiar face, hoping to continue an equally fruitful collaboration.
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