2026 McLaren Mastercard F1 Team

[CjC]

Not sure about this one. Im not GPs biggest fan and haven’t been for a long time.
I felt the same about Wheatley but mellowed towards him when he was at Sauber and Audi so I may do the same with GP.

Regardless of my opinion, sounds like he’s going to have a couple of seasons along side Stella to then eventually take over the role.

It could work out well, he has a lot of experience of winning and working with an incredible driver. At the end of the day it has to been viewed as a ‘coup’ for McLaren. Again.

[Emag]

I dont think GP will be a better TP than Stella for McLaren, but who knows whats going on behind the scenes. It's possible Stella wanted some calmness because truth be told I think he has aged quite a bit in these last 2-3 years. The job must be stressful. In that case, GP is a good asset to have I suppose, even though the team structure at McLaren is slightly confusing with multiple TDs and senior positions.

It could be that Stella wants to return to Italy as well, but he had already been with Ferrari for many years before he left them to come with Alonso at McLaren back in 2015. Seems odd for him to have a change of heart now considering McLaren has been rather good to him and they built the success McLaren enjoyed these last couple of years together.

I am more interested in what this means for Max. Does GP leaving means Max has decided to retire? Has Max gotten another offer by Toto and has decided to jump ship? Or is Max considering a move to McLaren with GP?

Unexpected piece of news for sure.

[Watto]

I know he handles him, but I don't think it is in anyone's interest to support Max thinking he is being a victim of stewards or other drivers (in the heat of the moment). GP is known for his snarky comments about other teams.

As team principal he wouldn't be in that situation so hopefully it doesn't happen.

I think though a lot of that is just Max specific he has at times pushed back in Max too.


I agree in so far though I am not sure it is wise for McLaren when Stella is doing a pretty good job unless he is planning on moving or - and I doubt this - Max is also in talks to join McLaren? And GP is part of this?

Stella is 55, so 57 for the 2028 season, hes going to want to wind it down, and probably not want 24 race weekends by 60. He deserves a nice move to a more senior role, and a transition to a younger TP seems sensible.

The talk above of GP taking some of the duties off Stella makes some sense too

[Watto]

I dont think GP will be a better TP than Stella for McLaren, but who knows whats going on behind the scenes. It's possible Stella wanted some calmness because truth be told I think he has aged quite a bit in these last 2-3 years. The job must be stressful. In that case, GP is a good asset to have I suppose, even though the team structure at McLaren is slightly confusing with multiple TDs and senior positions.

It could be that Stella wants to return to Italy as well, but he had already been with Ferrari for many years before he left them to come with Alonso at McLaren back in 2015. Seems odd for him to have a change of heart now considering McLaren has been rather good to him and they built the success McLaren enjoyed these last couple of years together.

I am more interested in what this means for Max. Does GP leaving means Max has decided to retire? Has Max gotten another offer by Toto and has decided to jump ship? Or is Max considering a move to McLaren with GP?

Unexpected piece of news for sure.

Yes agree with all of that unless Stella wants to move back it Italy or step back on his duties and this is where GP comes in.

Feel like it makes Max far more likely to walk away from RBR Marko gone GP gone the team is a shell of its old self is it retire or Mercedes or as you mention any chance this paves the way for Max to joins McLaren

[Gillian]

I dont think GP will be a better TP than Stella for McLaren, but who knows whats going on behind the scenes. It's possible Stella wanted some calmness because truth be told I think he has aged quite a bit in these last 2-3 years. The job must be stressful. In that case, GP is a good asset to have I suppose, even though the team structure at McLaren is slightly confusing with multiple TDs and senior positions.

It could be that Stella wants to return to Italy as well, but he had already been with Ferrari for many years before he left them to come with Alonso at McLaren back in 2015. Seems odd for him to have a change of heart now considering McLaren has been rather good to him and they built the success McLaren enjoyed these last couple of years together.

I am more interested in what this means for Max. Does GP leaving means Max has decided to retire? Has Max gotten another offer by Toto and has decided to jump ship? Or is Max considering a move to McLaren with GP?

Unexpected piece of news for sure.

Yes agree with all of that unless Stella wants to move back it Italy or step back on his duties and this is where GP comes in.

Feel like it makes Max far more likely to walk away from RBR Marko gone GP gone the team is a shell of its old self is it retire or Mercedes or as you mention any chance this paves the way for Max to joins McLaren

But who would leave, Piastri? I would love to see Verstappen v Norris but thats very bad for Piastri... Where would he go...

[Watto]

I dont think GP will be a better TP than Stella for McLaren, but who knows whats going on behind the scenes. It's possible Stella wanted some calmness because truth be told I think he has aged quite a bit in these last 2-3 years. The job must be stressful. In that case, GP is a good asset to have I suppose, even though the team structure at McLaren is slightly confusing with multiple TDs and senior positions.

It could be that Stella wants to return to Italy as well, but he had already been with Ferrari for many years before he left them to come with Alonso at McLaren back in 2015. Seems odd for him to have a change of heart now considering McLaren has been rather good to him and they built the success McLaren enjoyed these last couple of years together.

I am more interested in what this means for Max. Does GP leaving means Max has decided to retire? Has Max gotten another offer by Toto and has decided to jump ship? Or is Max considering a move to McLaren with GP?

Unexpected piece of news for sure.

Yes agree with all of that unless Stella wants to move back it Italy or step back on his duties and this is where GP comes in.

Feel like it makes Max far more likely to walk away from RBR Marko gone GP gone the team is a shell of its old self is it retire or Mercedes or as you mention any chance this paves the way for Max to joins McLaren

But who would leave, Piastri? I would love to see Verstappen v Norris but thats very bad for Piastri... Where would he go...

That's obvious (if it were to happen) a very big decision and prior to this news I wouldn't have even considered Max to McLaren still think its unlikely just that it is perhaps a chance not. Its possible too Max just walks away completely the only question I would have then is ghd obvious choice he would do GT3 racing but who would sponsor him and his team? Would RB still be interested? Mercedes since he is racing a Merc?

[Nicktendo86]

Max to take a year long sabbatical in 2027 and returns in 28 with McLaren, that’s my shot in the dark guess.

[Wouter]

Not sure about this one. Im not GPs biggest fan and haven’t been for a long time.
I felt the same about Wheatley but mellowed towards him when he was at Sauber and Audi so I may do the same with GP.

Regardless of my opinion, sounds like he’s going to have a couple of seasons along side Stella to then eventually take over the role.

It could work out well, he has a lot of experience of winning and working with an incredible driver. At the end of the day it has to been viewed as a ‘coup’ for McLaren. Again.

.
This is Jack Martens who brought the scoop this morning in The Limburger 09-04-2026, 06:08 CET "Lambiase is leaving RBR".

[_cerber1]

They write that Stella will remain in the team, GP will assist him.

[CjC]

Not sure about this one. Im not GPs biggest fan and haven’t been for a long time.
I felt the same about Wheatley but mellowed towards him when he was at Sauber and Audi so I may do the same with GP.

Regardless of my opinion, sounds like he’s going to have a couple of seasons along side Stella to then eventually take over the role.

It could work out well, he has a lot of experience of winning and working with an incredible driver. At the end of the day it has to been viewed as a ‘coup’ for McLaren. Again.

.
This is Jack Martens who brought the scoop this morning in The Limburger 09-04-2026, 06:08 CET "Lambiase is leaving RBR".

I think this situation will do a lot of back and forth till we hear confirmation from any of the teams.

According to this, Stella is staying at McLaren:

https://www.motorsport.com/f1/news/gian ... /10811617/

‘However, speculation that Lambiase's move is part of a long-term plan to succeed Stella, amid alleged Ferrari interest in its former engineer, is understood to be wide of the mark.‘

[CjC]

Also this:

https://www.skysports.com/f1/news/12433 ... ton-martin

‘Sources close to Stella say any links for a return to Ferrari are false and Lambiase's move to McLaren will give the Italian more freedom to focus on certain aspects of his team principal role.’

[CjC]

I’m also surprised that no one has thrown out there the possibility that Verstappen joins McLaren… aren’t the McLaren drivers contracted to in and around the 2028 mark as well?

[geogate]

the one thing Red Bull have always had over Mclaren is their trackside engineering. The way they can turn a dog around from first practice to a winner in the race. I think Stella will stay, he was always a reluctant TP - i dont believe he has any desire to ramp up the pressure 10-fold on him by become Ferrari TP

[FittingMechanics]

I doubt Stella would know he will get a Ferrari role in 2 years time. Ferrari is too unpredictable for that.

What could be the case is that Stella for personal reasons wants to scale down his involvement or even enjoy retirement. Maybe he has some other plans.

In any case, this is a coup for McLaren even though I didn't like the way he supported Max's bad ideas.

[De Wet]

I doubt Stella would know he will get a Ferrari role in 2 years time. Ferrari is too unpredictable for that.

What could be the case is that Stella for personal reasons wants to scale down his involvement or even enjoy retirement. Maybe he has some other plans.

In any case, this is a coup for McLaren even though I didn't like the way he supported Max's bad ideas.

What bad ideas from Max ?