According to race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, Red Bull’s new upgrades are paying off in Miami. He revealed after the sprint qualifying that Verstappen is satisfied with the development of the RB22 and also feels ‘comfortable’ in the car again. The Dutchman will start from fifth place during the sprint race on Saturday. Lambiase will remain Verstappen’s right-hand man until 2027; after that, the celebrated engineer will move to McLaren.
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“We have not only improved our overall performance but also addressed some other fundamental issues,” Lambiase said in a video message from Red Bull. “Max (Verstappen, ed.) feels extremely comfortable with that. You can also see that reflected in his performance.” Verstappen clocked the second fastest time during the first and only free practice, and in the sprint qualifying, he secured fifth place on the grid. He himself was cautiously positive about the performance of the RB22.
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Before the race weekend, Verstappen was asked again about Lambiase’s departure after 2027. “We talked about it well, and from my side, it would be stupid to hold him back,” the four-time world champion responded calmly. “I was very happy for him, but we are still working together this year and next year. Times change, and this was just a great opportunity, so I am happy for him. However, as a team, we will continue to work together and look ahead. In the interest of the team, we try to find the best people to replace him.”
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