The season finale in Abu Dhabi wrapped up the 2025 F1 championship, and the atmosphere inside the Red Bull garage felt a little heavier than usual; the result on track told one story, while the scenario on the pitwall hinted at something deeper. Max Verstappen may have missed his fifth F1 world title by just two points, but the bigger talking points were the emotions within the team and the scenarios that might shape Red Bull’s future.
A Difficult Year for Max Verstappen and Gianpiero Lambiase
Everyone in the world of F1 knows how important the relationship is between a race engineer and a driver. For drivers, it is the voice on the radio who manages them during the best and worst moments of a race weekend, and for Verstappen, that person is Gianpiero Lambiase.
Their radio messages are famous for a mixture of sharp and humorous comments between the two, a bond that has carried them through victories and difficult days. The sight of Lambiase appearing emotional after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix caught a lot of attention.
This year has been especially tough for him due to personal matters, as he missed the Austrian and Belgian races due to personal reasons. Verstappen worked with stand-in engineer Simon Rennie on those weekends, but it was clear that he missed Lambiase.
After the race on Sunday, Verstappen didn’t try to hide how much their partnership meant to him: “It’s been an emotional year. Forget about the results this year and I don’t want to go too much into detail, but it’s been tough. But I’m very happy to be able to work with someone that passionate. Of course, he is my race engineer, but I see him as my friend.”
“We have lived through so many emotional things together and fantastic achievements. I’m sure he was a bit emotional after the flag. So, I’m really looking forward to leaving here and catching up with him because it’s not been easy at times for him. I’m just very proud to be able to work with someone that good,” the Dutchman added.
Lambiase’s position for 2026 remains unclear, and Red Bull will take time over the winter to determine the best arrangement for everyone involved. One option is that Lambiase steps into a more senior trackside role while another race engineer takes on direct duties with Verstappen, but nothing has been confirmed as of yet.
Helmut Marko Faces His Own Crossroads
Another situation brewing quietly in the background involves Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko, as he stated after the race that he is unsure if he will continue beyond next season, despite his contract running through 2026.
He said, “It’s not in doubt, but I will have a discussion and then I will see what I do. It’s a complex set of different things. I have to sleep over it and then we will see.”
Marko has been part of Red Bull for decades and played a significant role in bringing Verstappen to F1 in 2015, when he secured the Dutch teenager a race seat despite others wanting him to spend another year in junior series. Verstappen has never forgotten that loyalty and defended Marko during his controversial clash with Christian Horner last year.
Red Bull’s structure has shifted this season, with more control from the Austrian head office. Team principal Laurent Mekies has also hinted that changes and reorganizations may occur soon.
Red Bull turned their 2025 season around in spectacular fashion, and Verstappen seemed relaxed about the final outcome, but the emotional scene in the garage and Marko’s uncertain future remind everyone that nothing in F1 is permanent and changes will take place sooner or later.