Max Verstappen will have to do without race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase this Formula 1 weekend in Austria. The British Italian, with whom Verstappen communicates during the race, is absent in Spielberg due to private circumstances.
This is confirmed by Red Bull in Austria to NU.nl. It is the first time that Lambiase has been absent from a race weekend of Verstappen since he started working with the Dutchman in May 2016. Verstappen became world champion under the leadership of Lambiase for the last four years.
Simon Rennie is Lambiase’s replacement. The Brit was the race engineer of Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull Racing for years. Ricciardo left the team in 2018, after which Rennie was given a role in the factory in Milton Keynes.
In 2020, Rennie returned to the grid for a year as race engineer of Alexander Albon. Since 2021, he has been responsible for Red Bull’s simulator program.
Rennie will communicate with Verstappen from 1:30 PM on Friday, when the first free practice is scheduled. Qualifying is scheduled for Saturday at 4:00 PM. The race is on Sunday at 3:00 PM.