Verstappen pleased with Hart’s first weekend as race engineer

Max Verstappen is pleased with Tom Hart’s first weekend as his race engineer, describing their work together in Austin as a good start despite a difficult first race for Hart.

Red Bull has given Hart several race weekends in 2026 to build experience in the role, including Austin. He is set to take over from Gianpiero Lambiase, who is due to leave Red Bull for McLaren after 2027 and become its chief racing officer.

Verstappen said experience is the main difference between Hart and Lambiase, with whom he has worked for years. Their communication naturally feels easier, he said; with Hart, they still need to fine-tune details such as the wording and length of radio messages and what to communicate. He added that exchanges become more demanding under pressure, when everything has to happen quickly.

Verstappen said Hart will be at the pit wall with him again in Brazil and, he thinks, they will work together once more after that.