Red Bull reportedly identifies possible replacement for Verstappen's race engineer
German outlet Bild reports that Red Bull has identified engineer Makelov as a likely successor to Gianpiero Lambiase, who is leaving to join McLaren.
German publication Bild reports that Red Bull has identified engineer Makelov as the person set to take over the team's trackside engineering operations, potentially replacing Max Verstappen's long-time race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase.
Should the move be confirmed, Makelov would be responsible for coordinating all operational matters at the track and overseeing the engineering team during Grand Prix race weekends.
From Aston Martin to Red Bull
Makelov has spent more than a decade at Aston Martin, including the periods when the team operated under the Force India and Racing Point names. According to Bild, he is expected to leave that role at the end of the year. Earlier in his career, he also gained experience at Williams and Sauber.
Lambiase's move to McLaren
Lambiase already confirmed in April 2026 that he had signed with McLaren to take on the role of chief race engineer there. He joined Red Bull in 2015 and began working closely with Verstappen from 2016 onward, as the Dutch driver went on to become a four-time Formula 1 champion. Over time, Lambiase rose to become the team's race director.
