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Formula One F1 – Bahrain Grand Prix – Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain – March 28, 2021 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen on the grid before the race Pool via REUTERS/Andrej Isakovic
Reuters
Formula One F1 – Bahrain Grand Prix – Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain – March 28, 2021 Red Bull’s Max Verstappen on the grid before the race Pool via REUTERS/Andrej Isakovic
Contrary to team sports like soccer and basketball, an F1 driver is all alone in the cockpit by himself. That may be the impression which we get from the outside, but they have someone who serves as the line of communication between him and the team. And Max Verstappen highly the person who fulfills that role for him.
This is none other than the race engineer assigned to each and every driver on the grid. While Lewis Hamilton‘s radio messages with Peter Bonnington take all the attention on a race weekend, Max Verstappen’s right-hand man, Gianpiero Lambiase, is as integral to his races.
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Aston Martin Red Bull Racing’s Max Verstappen (the Netherlands) prepares to drive in Graz, Austria. Samo Vidic / Red Bull Content Pool |REUTERS
In an interview with FORMULA 1 Magazine, Max divulged on their relationship.
“We are in contact with each other a lot, the relationship has grown over the years. We get along very well and we also know exactly what we want from each other, which way we want to go.
“GP is very passionate, driven, and wants to win. I think that is very important: you not only have to be driven to be in Formula 1, but you also have to enjoy being there.”
Jos believes Lambiase matches the demand and drive of Max Verstappen
It is important for an F1 driver to get a competent race engineer. During the race, we consistently hear the drivers putting their race engineers under pressure. Whether it’s for more data or executing different strategic calls.
And GP ticks all the departments; his work ethic and drive even have Max‘s father, Jos Verstappen’s seal of approval.
“Gianpiero is very driven and busy with his work 24 hours a day. You have to have that mentality, otherwise Max will ask you. He does push his engineer in that sense, especially when he is on the track. Then he asks everyone the way he races: one hundred percent commitment,” said Jos Verstappen.
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MONTMELO, SPAIN: Max Verstappen of Netherlands and Red Bull Racing talks with his father Jos Verstappen in the garage during day three of F1 Winter Testing at Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo, Spain. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
Gianpiero Lambiase has come a long way since his tenure at Toro Rosso. He’s worked with some exceptional drivers in the past, but none like Max Verstappen. So, it will also be the culmination of a dream for him if he manages to win a world title with the Dutchman at Red Bull.
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