Tom Hart, Max Verstappen’s performance engineer, will step up as the four-time world champion’s race engineer for the 2027 season, Red Bull have confirmed. The promotion comes as Gianpiero Lambiase, Verstappen’s long-time right-hand man, prepares to leave for McLaren as chief racing officer no later than 2028.
Hart, who was reportedly set to join Williams as Alex Albon’s race engineer, has reversed that decision to take on the pivotal role at Red Bull. According to Autosport, Hart is expected to stand in for Lambiase at various points during the 2026 season to gain experience before taking over full-time. The exact start date hinges on when Lambiase’s gardening leave begins.
“Tom Hart replaces Gianpiero Lambiase as Max Verstappen's race engineer at Red Bull from 2027 after Lambiase moves to McLaren.”
The reshuffle comes amid a turbulent season for Verstappen, who sits seventh in the drivers’ standings, 113 points behind championship leader Kimi Antonelli, heading into this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix – the final race before the summer break. Speculation has swirled over Verstappen’s future at Red Bull, with links to other teams, but team principal Laurent Mekies moved to quell talk of further departures.
“If I look at the names that have been circulating in the last few months, most of them are still in the garage,” Mekies said in Belgium. “Some had never wanted to leave, some have changed their mind and are staying with us.”
Hart’s appointment signals Red Bull’s intent to retain stability as Lambiase’s exit marks the end of a formidable partnership. Whether Verstappen remains to race alongside his new engineer remains an open question.
