When Max Verstappen dropped a 4-word reply to his Red Bull engineer telling him not to be concerned about the fastest lap

During the 2023 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Max Verstappen defied team orders to set the fastest lap time, earning an extra point that kept his teammate Sergio Perez from gaining the lead in the championship race. In a heated radio exchange, he said he cares about the extra point, ignoring his race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase's caution.

Red Bull registered a dominant season, winning 21 of the 22 races. Verstappen won 19, with Perez settling with two victories. However, in the first half, the battle for the championship was fiercer, leading to heated moments.

One such incident unfolded on March 19, 2023, during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. Perez was leading the race, with Verstappen chasing his teammate from P2. During laps 35-40, the Dutch driver reported issues with the driveshaft, whereas Perez also flagged concerns over his brakes.

From lap 39, Max Verstappen's race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase asked him to slow down and maintain a 1:33.00 lap time, which was good enough for a P2 finish. However, the Dutch driver wanted to score an extra point by setting up the fastest lap. When he inquired about the lap times, Lambiase said (via racingnews356):

"We are not concerned about that at the moment, Max."

Verstappen replied:

"Yeah, but I am."

GP had to relent and fed him information on the fastest lap time. Despite specific team orders from his race engineer, Verstappen scored that extra point by setting up the fastest lap time to see the checkered flag behind his teammate and race winner, Sergio Perez. That additional point kept Checo from surpassing him in the championship standings, resulting in an uncomfortable situation for Red Bull Racing.

Max Verstappen, renowned for his dominant style of racing, won the championship in 2023, his third title in a row. Despite a positive start, Perez fell 290 points behind the Dutchman to secure P2.

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Max Verstappen's race engineer promoted amid internal restructuring

Max Verstappen's race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase (Image Source: Getty)

In 2024, Red Bull noted two key exits in chief technical officer Adrian Newey and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley. While Newey will join Aston Martin, Wheatley has been roped in by Audi as team principal from the 2026 season onwards.

However, instead of making external signings, Red Bull is likely to hand a promotion to Max Verstappen's race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase.

As reported by Formula 1, GP will take up the role of head of racing while being race engineer for Verstappen simultaneously in the 2025 F1 season. Lambiase has been associated with the four-time world champion since 2016, and their partnership has produced extraordinary results.

In a significant internal structure overhaul, Red Bull appointed Steve Knowles as head of sporting regulations and Richard Wolverson as head of race team operations.