Verstappen teams up with different race engineer as Lambiase misses Austrian GP

Max Verstappen and Gianpiero Lambiase have long formed a well-oiled machine in Formula 1, but this weekend the Dutchman - for the first time since joining Red Bull - will have to manage without his regular race engineer.

Lambiase will miss the Austrian Grand Prix for personal reasons. As a result, Red Bull will not only be without Verstappen’s usual race engineer but also without its Head of Racing.

Following several promotions, Lambiase has taken on a broader role within the trackside team - one that extends beyond just Verstappen’s garage.

This weekend, Simon Rennie will take over Lambiase’s duties and act as Verstappen’s race engineer, meaning he will also be heard over the team radio.

Rennie began his Formula 1 career in 2004 at Renault, where he worked as a data engineer for Fernando Alonso. He later served as the race engineer for Kimi Raikkonen at Lotus, before moving to Red Bull in 2013. At Red Bull, he was a race engineer for both Mark Webber and then Daniel Ricciardo.

Podium: race winner Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing, second place Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG F1, Simon Rennie, Red Bull Racing Race Engineer and third place Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing

Photo by: Sutton Images

After Ricciardo left the team, Rennie transitioned to a factory-based role. Due to his various roles within the organisation, he remains a familiar face within the team and to Verstappen.

Red Bull expects Lambiase to return next weekend when the British Grand Prix takes place at Silverstone.

This current double-header is significant for the Milton Keynes-based squad, as it represents the final push with upgrades before the team shifts its full focus to 2026 and the new regulations. It means that the next few races will determine whether a title fight is still within reach.

“Of course, I know that too,” Verstappen told Dutch media on Thursday. “But we’ll see how much of a difference this upgrade package can actually make. There are a few races now where something is still possible, and then we’ll see where we stand.”

Verstappen added that in his view “it’s not very realistic” to turn the season around, although he did note that the Red Bull Ring suits him well, having already won five times in Spielberg in his F1 career.