Red Bull Responds After Hamilton Questions Verstappen-

Red Bull Responds After Hamilton Questions Verstappen-Lambiase Relationship

Red Bull appeared to hit back at Lewis Hamilton’s recent remarks by posting a heartfelt tribute to the close working relationship between Max Verstappen and his long-time race engineer, Gianpiero Lambiase, on social media. The post, which included several warm and cheerful photos of the duo, was widely interpreted as a subtle response to Hamilton’s pointed comments during the Chinese Grand Prix weekend in Shanghai.

The seven-time world champion had recently expressed his frustration over media coverage of his team radio exchanges with new race engineer Riccardo Adami during the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne. Hamilton, who was heard asking Adami to “leave him alone” over the radio, acknowledged that the exchange may have seemed abrupt but emphasized that there was no underlying issue between them. He clarified that the moment was simply part of the intensity during a race and should not be overblown.

However, Hamilton took the opportunity to call out what he believes is a double standard in how the media portrays such interactions. He pointed to Verstappen’s long-standing, often fiery, radio communications with Lambiase, which have included several high-profile outbursts over the years — including an expletive-laden rant during the 2024 Hungarian Grand Prix — that have rarely attracted the same level of media scrutiny.

Speaking to Sky Sports at the Shanghai event, Hamilton said, “The way Max talks to his engineer sometimes, the abuse that poor guy has taken over the years, you [the media] never write about that. But you make a big deal out of a minor exchange I had last weekend.”

Shortly after these comments gained traction, Red Bull’s official social media channels posted a carousel of images featuring Verstappen and Lambiase sharing laughs, hugs, and joyful moments in the garage and on the podium. The warm and lighthearted visuals emphasized the strong camaraderie between the pair and painted a stark contrast to Hamilton’s portrayal of their working relationship.

The Instagram post was captioned simply, “MV, GP,” accompanied by a fist bump emoji and a red heart, suggesting unity and mutual respect. On X (formerly Twitter), Red Bull cheekily added, “We’ll casually leave these here…” hinting that the post was more than just a celebration of teamwork — likely a thinly veiled response to the criticism from their rival.

Verstappen and Lambiase have worked together since the Dutch driver joined Red Bull Racing in 2016. Over the years, their professional bond has helped power Verstappen to four world championships. While their radio exchanges are sometimes heated, both have previously described their dynamic as built on deep trust and mutual understanding, allowing them to push performance boundaries under pressure.

Red Bull’s social media post subtly reinforced that narrative, seemingly aiming to counter Hamilton’s assertion that Verstappen’s behavior is overlooked or excused by the media. The timing and content of the post suggest Red Bull wanted to underline the strength and positivity of one of Formula 1’s most successful engineer-driver partnerships — and perhaps take a light jab at their rival’s recent frustrations.