Lambiase’s successor Tom Hart has had a successful test, says Mekies

Gianpiero Lambiase could be wearing McLaren overalls as early as next year. The papaya squad are trying to agree an early move with Red Bull, but for that to happen, Red Bull need to be sure Max Verstappen has someone he can rely on on the pit wall. Lambiase’s successor has, however, passed his first major test.

Finding a race engineer who could fully replace Gianpiero Lambiase is virtually impossible. He and Max Verstappen share a chemistry that is exceptional even by Formula 1 standards. Tom Hart, Lambiase’s successor who has come through the ranks at Red Bull, therefore faces a tough task.

Hart completed his first full weekend in the role in the United States. He now has time to analyse what went well and what needs improving, before returning to the pit wall in Sao Paulo and Las Vegas. And there is room for improvement, as one of the radio exchanges during the race suggests.

On lap 48 of the race, Verstappen was running second. Leclerc was third, less than a second behind, with Norris a further second back in fourth. Verstappen could see both in his mirrors, so he wanted to know how far fifth-placed Hamilton was behind Norris. The correct answer was around six seconds.

Verstappen: Gap behind Lando?
Hart: 1.2
Verstappen: Car behind Lando?
Hart: Car behind now Leclerc, gap 1.7…
Verstappen: No, the gap behind Lando’s car!
Hart: Gap behind Lando is six [inaudible].

Red Bull are right to use the closing stages of this season to fine-tune communication between their star driver and his future race engineer. According to Laurent Mekies, that process is going well. “I think he did an excellent job. You see me smiling, because I certainly remember what it is to be on your first race as a race engineer, and he picked a fairly complicated race to do that. That was not his choice – but jokes aside, I think he really did an excellent job.”

Hart was thrown in at the deep end, as Red Bull’s radio was once again not working properly. “First qualifying, first race, he has managed to channel very well the work of the engineering teams behind him to Max. Of course the race was a complicated race, and we are probably a bit frustrated with the P3, which is the good news, but I really think he did an excellent job, and he was very well supported by GP [Gianpiero Lambiase] as well in the background.”

“You cannot recreate a relationship in no time, but I have every confidence that we are going to see him ramping up and building that relationship with Max,” the team principal added.

After all, Verstappen chose Hart himself. Red Bull granted his request and ensured Hart did not move to Williams, where he had already agreed to become Alex Albon’s race engineer.