Max Verstappen has opened up about a deeply personal moment following his victory at the Singapore Grand Prix at Marina Bay.
The four-time world champion had never won in Singapore before Sunday, making the result all the more significant after years of frustration at the circuit.
Verstappen dominated from start to finish, leading every lap from pole position to claim a commanding victory in the street circuit race.
Only Charles Leclerc’s fastest lap denied Verstappen a seventh grand slam, which would have placed him just one behind record holder Jim Clark.
However, the on-track achievement was not the only lasting memory Verstappen took away from the Marina Bay podium ceremony.
Joining him on the podium was long-time race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase, who is expected to depart Red Bull at the end of the season ahead of a move to McLaren in 2028.
Lambiase’s appearance on the podium was a surprise to Verstappen, who was visibly moved by the gesture from his team.
“I didn’t expect him to go to the podium with me!,” Verstappen said, adding: “I was very happy it was him! It could be the last one, so, at least it’d be one with a special meaning.”
Lambiase has been Verstappen’s race engineer since the Dutchman’s winning Red Bull debut at the Spanish Grand Prix in 2016, making their partnership one of the most successful in recent Formula 1 history.
With only six races remaining in the season, the Singapore podium appearance could mark the final time the pair celebrate together in that setting.
Lambiase will not engineer Verstappen for three of those remaining six races, as Red Bull look to ease in his replacement ahead of next season.
Tom Hart will take over engineering duties for Verstappen at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, the Brazilian Grand Prix in Interlagos, and the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
The transition represents a significant shift for Verstappen, who has relied on Lambiase throughout his most successful years in Formula 1.