Verstappen on special connection: 'If he stops, I'll stop too'

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17 December 2021 at 09:27
Last update 17 December 2021 at 11:31
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  • GPblog.com

Max Verstappen has announced in a year-end interview with Ziggo Sport that he will quit Formula 1 if his race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase does the same. That is how good the relationship is between the engineer and his driver.

Verstappen quits GP right away

Lambiase and Verstappen have been working together since Verstappen made his entrance at Red Bull Racing in 2016. The Italian Brit previously worked for Jordan which transitioned to Force India and worked with Giancarlo Fisichella, Vitantonio Liuizzi, Paul di Resta and Sergio Perez. In 2015 he made the switch to Red Bull Racing where he first worked with Daniil Kvyat, but since 2016 with Verstappen.

''I have said to him that I only work with him. As soon as he stops, I stop too,'' Verstappen told Olav Mol in the interview. The commentator is visibly impressed by this and asks what makes this bond so special then. Normally a driver changes his engineer often enough in his career.

Marko enjoys the collaboration

''It is unbelievable how we work together. Of course, we can be pretty strict with each other sometimes, but I want that too. He has to tell me when I'm being a jerk and I have to tell him. I always told him that. He can tell me that on the radio as well, but it's been going really well lately. The last few years I tried to be the engineer and he tried to be the driver.''

According to Verstappen, people within Red Bull are also very happy with the collaboration. Helmut Marko, for example, is said to be listening to their conversations every race half smiling. ''Helmut always thinks it's very nice too. Of course, he is also listening on my side and he finds it very nice how we communicate with each other'', concludes Verstappen. The full interview with Verstappen will be broadcasted on Ziggo Sport on Friday evening.