# Red Bull Verstappen team changes

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/red-bull-verstappen-team-changes
> Updated: 2026-07-28T19:41:00.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2.

In July 2026 Red Bull Racing announced a shift in its engineering staff, naming Tom Hart as the new race engineer for Max Verstappen starting in the 2027 season. Hart will take over from Gianpiero Lambiase, who is slated to join McLaren as chief racing officer by 2028 after a period of gardening leave.

At the same time, attention remained on Verstappen’s driver lineup. Former teammate Sergio Pérez, who left Red Bull at the end of 2024 for the new Cadillac F1 entry, described working alongside the four‑time champion as the most demanding role in the sport. Former driver David Coulthard noted that while Verstappen has not confirmed any future plans, speculation about a possible move to McLaren persists, though recent podiums suggest he is likely to stay with Red Bull.

Overall, the announcements underscore Red Bull’s continued focus on Verstappen, both in terms of engineering support and driver strategy, while navigating staff transitions and external rumours about the champion’s future.

## Timeline

### 2026-07-28: Max Verstappen Remains Central as Red Bull Faces Driver Dynamics

Sergio Pérez says racing with Max Verstappen at Red Bull was his toughest task; he departs for Cadillac in 2026. Former Red Bull driver David Coulthard notes Verstappen hasn't confirmed his future, with McLaren

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/max-verstappen-remains-central-as-red-bull-faces-driver-dynamics

### 2026-07-23: Red Bull appoints Tom Hart as Max Verstappen's race engineer for 2027

Red Bull will install Tom Hart as Max Verstappen's race engineer for 2027, as Gianpiero Lambiase moves to McLaren.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/red-bull-appoints-tom-hart-as-max-verstappens-race-engineer-for-2027

---
Cite as: Red Bull Verstappen team changes. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/red-bull-verstappen-team-changes