Max Verstappen loses key F1 ally at Austrian GP for first time in Red Bull career

Max Verstappen must navigate the Austrian Grand Prix weekend without one of his closest Formula 1 allies around to guide him. The Dutchman's long-serving race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase has, unusually, not made the trip to Spielberg.

Lambiase has been the voice in Verstappen's ear throughout his entire Red Bull Racing career. Known colloquially in the F1 paddock as 'GP', he joined Red Bull in 2015 having spent more than a decade working for Force India, which he joined in 2005 when it was still competing as Jordan Grand Prix.

We was initially race engineer to Daniil Kvyat but, when the Russian was replaced mid-season by a young Verstappen, he remained in the role. They have since formed a very close bond, Lambiase helping the Dutchman go from a teenage prodigy to a four-time F1 champion over the years.

But he won't be able to help Verstappen in Austria this weekend. Lambiase has not travelled for the 11th event of the current F1 season, absent because of personal circumstances.

Sign up to our free weekly F1 newsletter, Pit Lane Chronicle, by entering your email address below so that every new edition lands straight in your inbox!

It is the first time since Verstappen made the step up to the top Red Bull team during the 2016 season that Lambiase has missed a race. In his place, Simon Rennie will act as Verstappen's race engineer to help guide him through the Austrian GP weekend.

Rennie has plenty of experience in the role, having performed it for the likes of Fernando Alonso, Robert Kubica and Kimi Raikkonen at Renault. He joined Red Bull in 2013, initially serving as race engineer to Mark Webber and then to Daniel Ricciardo before moving to a factory role in 2019.

READ MORE: Max Verstappen fumes and asks 'is this a trap' in Austrian GP press conference

READ MORE: FIA make unprecedented move to leave F1 drivers facing disqualification for two offences

He is no stranger to temporary stints back at the track, having served as Alex Albon's race engineer in 2020 for a brief spell. Rennie is expected to fill in for just one weekend with Lambiase expected to return to his trackside duties at next Sunday's British Grand Prix.

Part of Rennie's responsibilities will be to help Verstappen to stay out of trouble on track in Spielberg this weekend, with the Dutchman still walking a penalty points tightrope. He remains just one away from a race suspension, with two of the 11 points he currently has set to expire before the Silverstone race.

Red Bull are introducing an upgrade package over the next two race weekends, which is set to be their last major effort of the season before they switch their full focus to their 2026 machine. If the upgrades do not put the car on equal footing with the dominant McLarens, then Verstappen's hopes of a successful title defence will surely be over.

"Of course, I know that too," the 27-year-old said. "We'll see how much of a difference this upgrade package can actually make. There are a few races now where something is still possible, and then we'll see where we stand."