World champion Verstappen: “Then I would quit” / Formula 1

Suggested exchange of words: There’s something up here. In his usual steady voice and military brief, race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase spoke into Max Verstappen’s ear at the Japanese Grand Prix: “Update on the front wing, please.”

Verstappen replied that the car was initially low, but now that was slowly turning into overdrive.

Lambiase, continued to calm himself: “Well, as expected, thank you.”

Max, about the next tire change: “It’ll be fine with a click or two.”

Lambiase, now in a sarcastic tone: “I don’t want to say I told you, but – I understand, thank you.”

Verstappen was honest enough to admit his 57th GP victory: “It’s very simple. The GP was right, I was wrong about the wing modification.”

At times, the Italian-British duo Lambiase and the Belgian-born Dutchman look like an old couple.

In reality, however, it is a close collaboration between a world-class racing driver and his race engineer; about mutual understanding.

Red Bull Racing team boss Christian Horner says this about Verstappen and Lambiase: “The attitude between the two is so great that you wonder who should be the driver and who should be the engineer.”

“I believe that the work between the pilot and his race engineer is the basis of success. The engineer must be able to implement what the driver needs. I see the relationship between GP and Max that is as strong as before between Sebastian Vettel and Guillaume Rocquelin.

Who is this Gianpiero Lambise?

He was born on October 14, 1980 in Bedford (England), with Italian roots. He graduated from the University of London in 2002 as a mechanical engineer.

Lambiase came to the Formula 1 racing team from Silverstone in 2005 through Colin Kolles’ Formula 3 team, which fans know under six different names: Jordan, Midland, Spyker, Force India, Racing Point, Aston Martin.

In early 2010, Gianpiero worked as a race engineer in the GP race, with Tonio Liuzzi, from 2011 to 2013 at Force India and Paul Di Resta, in 2014 and Sergio Pérez, who would see him again in the Red Bull Championship in 2021.

In 2015, Red Bull Racing brought him to Milton Keynes, where Lambiase previously looked after Russia’s Daniil Kvyat. Gianpiero has been Max Verstappen’s sidekick since 2018.

The Dutchman about his confidant: “Gianpiero, like me, says directly what is going on. We are basically honest with each other, which is very important in times when things are not going well on the track.”

“It can also happen in situations where one person has to be very harsh with another. But that’s important. I need someone to remind me when I screw something up, even on the radio.”

This made Max joke. When asked by his teammate Sergio Pérez on the “Talking Bull” podcast which Red Bull Racing employee would like to trade places with him, Verstappen laughed: “With my race engineer Gianpiero, then I can take him for a change Snap in Funk.” !”

Max explains: “We talk so openly on the radio that one might think we are angry with each other. And I see that sometimes it sounds like that. But we’re not mad at each other, we’re just looking for ways to get faster. We understand each other so well that there is no reason to have to apologize to the other person after a heated argument.”

“We have a great working relationship and we encourage each other. That keeps us both on our toes.”

Some time ago Max even went so far as to say: “What will happen if Gianpiero leaves Formula 1? Then I would quit a day later.”

Of course Max was joking. But his words can certainly be understood as a compliment to his faithful companion.

Japan-GP, Suzuka Circuit

01. Max Verstappen (NL), Red Bull Racing, 1:54:23,566 h
02. Sergio Pérez (MEX), Red Bull Racing, +12.535 seconds
03. Carlos Sainz (E), Ferrari, +20,866
04. Charles Leclerc (MC), Ferrari, +26,522
05. Lando Norris (GB), McLaren, +29.700
06. Fernando Alonso (E), Aston Martin, +44,272
07. George Russell (GB), Mercedes, +45,951
08. Oscar Piastri (AUS), McLaren, +47.525
09. Lewis Hamilton (GB), Mercedes, +48,626
10. Yuki Tsunoda (J), Racing Bulls, +1 Round
11. Nico Hülkenberg (D), Haas, +1 lap
12. Lance Stroll (CDN), Aston Martin, +1 Round
13. Kevin Magnussen (DK), Haas, +1 Lap
14. Valtteri Bottas (FIN), clean, +1 lap
15. Esteban Ocon (F), Alpine, +1 Round
16. Pierre Gasly (F), Alpine, +1 Round
17. Logan Sargeant (USA), Williams, +1 Round
outside
Guanyu Zhou (RCH), Sauber, Elektrik
Alex Albon (T), Williams, Crash
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS), Racing Bull, Crash

World Championship Standings (after 4 out of 24 Grands Prix)
the driver
01. Verstappen 77 points
02. Perez 64
03. Leclerc 59
04. Sainz 55
05. Norris 37
06. Plate 32
07. Russell 24
08. Alonso 24
09. Hamilton 10
10. Walk 7
11. Tsunoda 7
12. Oliver Bearman (GB) 6
13. Hulkenberg 3
14. Magnussen 1
15. Alboni 0
16. Zhou 0
17. Ricciardo 0
18. Okon 0
19. 0 gas
20. Bota 0
21. Sergeant 0

Builders Cup
01. Red Bull Racing 141 Punkte
02. Ferrari 120
03. McLaren 69
04. Mercedes 34
05. Aston Martin 33
06. Running Bull 7
07. Especially 4
08. Williams 0
09. Sauber 0
10. Alpine 0