Sports · Motorsport · 2 hrs ago
Tom Hart to engineer Max Verstappen at three 2026 F1 races
Red Bull will put Tom Hart on Max Verstappen’s race-engineering team for three Formula 1 rounds late in the 2026 season.
Hart is due to take the role at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, followed by races in Brazil and Las Vegas.
He will temporarily replace Gianpiero Lambiase, Verstappen’s long-time race engineer and a key part of his four championship-winning seasons.
Lambiase is set to join McLaren, though the accounts differ on when he will leave Red Bull.
He is expected to work with Verstappen at other remaining races this season, including Mexico, Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
The change gives Red Bull a chance to prepare Hart for a larger role, with a full handover expected next season; discussions continue over Lambiase’s departure timing.
Tom Hart will serve as Max Verstappen’s race engineer at the United States, Brazilian and Las Vegas Grands Prix in 2026.
The three-race arrangement is part of Red Bull’s planned handover from Gianpiero Lambiase, who has engineered Verstappen since 2016.
Lambiase is set to join McLaren, but reports differ on when his Red Bull contract ends and when he may leave.
Lambiase is expected to resume race-engineering duties for at least the Qatar and Abu Dhabi rounds.
Hart previously completed practice sessions as Verstappen’s engineer and chose to stay at Red Bull rather than move to Williams.
- Who
- Tom Hart will engineer Max Verstappen at three races. Gianpiero Lambiase is handing over those duties.
- What
- Red Bull is beginning a transition to Hart as Verstappen’s race engineer.
- When
- At the 2026 United States, Brazilian and Las Vegas Grands Prix, starting in Austin.
- Where
- Austin, Brazil and Las Vegas; the US race is at COTA.
- Why
- The arrangement is part of Red Bull’s succession plan as Lambiase prepares to leave for McLaren.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Lambiase began working as Verstappen’s race engineer.
Verstappen won, and Lambiase represented Red Bull on the podium.
Hart is due to begin engineering Verstappen at Austin.
Hart is also due to engineer Verstappen at these rounds.
Lambiase is expected to resume race-engineering duties.
- Hart’s assignment
- Three races: United States, Brazil and Las Vegas
- First race
- United States Grand Prix at COTA
- Outgoing engineer
- Gianpiero Lambiase, Verstappen’s engineer since 2016
- Hart’s previous trial
- Practice sessions with Verstappen at Monza
- Lambiase’s next team
- McLaren
3 sources
What people are saying
Maybe he was happy that it was not working! I couldn’t really say anything,
I didn’t expect that,
This might be the last time I stand on the podium
Posts on X
Red Bull stuurt Gianpiero Lambiase namens het team naar het podium in Singapore. Zijn opvolger als race-engineer van Verstappen, Tom Hart, zal dus in enkele weekenden dit jaar zijn taken al overnemen: in Austin, Brazilië en Las Vegas. #F1