Few duos in Formula 1 radiate pure dominance like Max Verstappen and his race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase. Their long-standing partnership at Red Bull Racing has produced some of the most iconic, heated, and strategic radio exchanges in the sport’s modern era. But when the stakes are sky-high, it’s Lambiase who often acts as the calm in Verstappen’s storm—a voice of reason amid 300 km/h chaos.
And nowhere was their partnership more crucial than the 2024 São Paulo Grand Prix, where Verstappen pulled off an outrageous comeback from 17th on the grid to victory, delivering a hammer blow to title rival Lando Norris.
Lambiase Knows When to Push and When to Step Back
Lambiase, renowned for his firm but fair approach with Verstappen, has never been afraid to push back when the Dutchman’s aggression boils over. However, as he admits, sometimes he has to step aside and let Verstappen take the lead.
“It’s something you need to be innately aware of when you are communicating with a driver that’s traveling at 300 kph+ in a high-pressure environment.”
“Whilst we are a duo, I think the engineer needs to be subservient to the driver at that point. It’s pointless rising to the occasion, because you’ll just end up in a spiral downwards very, very quickly.”
It’s this delicate balance of authority and trust that has made Verstappen and Lambiase one of the most lethal partnerships in F1 history. And in São Paulo, that trust delivered one of the greatest victories of Verstappen’s career.
The Impossible Comeback: Verstappen’s Brazilian Masterclass
Heading into the 2024 São Paulo Grand Prix, Verstappen’s chances seemed all but dead. A disastrous qualifying session saw him eliminated in Q2, and an engine-related grid penalty meant he started a miserable P17—while Norris, his biggest championship rival, lined up on pole position.
It was a nightmare scenario. But as Lambiase puts it, when Verstappen is behind the wheel, “anything is possible.”
“It was really a case for us of damage limitation at that point.”
“Obviously, there’s always opportunity with wet weather; with Max in the car, anything is possible.”
Right from the start, Verstappen sliced through the field, overtaking cars with ruthless efficiency. The gap to Norris and George Russell at the front wasn’t growing—it was shrinking. That’s when Lambiase knew they had a shot.
“He was making very quick progress. The gap to the leaders wasn’t really growing. If anything, he was starting to chip away, and I knew he had the pace.”
The Championship-Defining Gamble
With changing conditions and chaos unfolding, Verstappen and Lambiase made the race-winning call—staying out on worn intermediate tyres while Norris and Russell blinked and pitted for fresh rubber.
That moment sealed the race.
“There was one pivotal moment when he stayed out on track on intermediates while the two leaders [Norris and Russell] pitted for a fresh set, which gave him track position.”
It was a gamble, but one rooted in Red Bull’s supreme understanding of tyre wear and race strategy.
“With the conditions on track, the intermediates weren’t wearing necessarily; we weren’t overheating them. We had evidence to suggest that the tyres were still in good condition.”
“So for us, I won’t say it was calm, but we followed our processes and ultimately came out on top.”
When the red flag was waved, Verstappen was now in prime position—and from there, victory was inevitable.
The Fallout: Norris Left Stunned as Verstappen Lands the Knockout Blow
While Verstappen stormed to victory, Norris—who had everything in his favor—was left reeling. The McLaren driver, who had started on pole position, could only watch in disbelief as Verstappen turned a P17 start into a race win.
Initially, Norris lashed out, claiming Verstappen was simply “lucky”—only to backtrack when reality set in.
The psychological impact was brutal. A week later, Verstappen wrapped up his fourth world championship in Las Vegas, with a fifth-place finish enough to seal the deal—while Norris could do no better than sixth.
Verstappen and Lambiase: The Perfect Storm
The 2024 São Paulo Grand Prix wasn’t just another Verstappen win—it was a statement of dominance.
A race where Red Bull’s strategic mastery, Verstappen’s unparalleled skill, and Lambiase’s steady hand all combined to break the will of their closest rival.
In a sport where precision, patience, and pure aggression define the best, Verstappen and Lambiase proved once again why they are the gold standard in Formula 1.