News of Gianpiero Lambiase's planned switch from Red Bull to its Formula 1 rival McLaren will not have come out of the blue for Max Verstappen, as he will have known about the deal being in place for several weeks.

But, at a time when Verstappen is pondering what exactly he does with his F1 future, the significance of the looming loss of perhaps his closest remaining ally at Red Bull should not be played down.

While Verstappen's decision about what happens next for him rests on a host of factors, the most significant of which is his dislike of the 2026 regulations, there are extra elements feeding into things.

Red Bull's competitive situation will not be helping (even though Verstappen denies this is a factor), but it's the guaranteed ending now of a partnership with Lambiase that began from Verstappen's very first race (and win) with the senior team that could sway things on a more personal level.

Lambiase's call to switch teams means that whatever Verstappen does, a life change is coming which means race weekends are going to be very different whether he stays in F1 or not.

Lambiase and Verstappen have formed a formidable partnership - in fact an iconic driver/engineer pairing - ever since the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix.

They have a bond that has often been likened to being an old married couple, owing to the many years they have worked together and the bickering nature of their dynamic at times.

But this should not be viewed as a criticism of their partnership. It is in fact a strength of an enduring relationship for a pair who have fought, argued, cried, and cheered together, experiencing every possible emotion alongside the many wins and four F1 drivers' championship titles.

Lambiase has a direct line to Verstappen, and vice versa, and uses that to good effect.

He has consistently been the only person in the paddock who can give Verstappen as good as he gets - and this has to be seen as a positive for Red Bull in getting the very best out of Verstappen too.

There is a bluntness that all drivers need at some point, but sometimes it is not easy for team members to rein in a driver who is put up on a pedestal.

One of Lambiase's big strengths was that he was never cowered by his driver, often giving as good as he got over team radio but without that, then leading to lingering tensions afterwards.

Sure, there have been flashpoints, and the need for post-event discussions, but the pair always knew where they stood with each other and why these challenging moments were needed if they were going to deliver the best in F1.

It would be wrong, though, to suggest that without Lambiase there is zero future for Verstappen at Red Bull. Life in F1 moves on very quickly when staff depart.

Over the years, Verstappen has already had some exposure to working with others within the Red Bull organisation, whether through different voices being brought in for certain sessions, or when other engineers have covered races where Lambiase was absent for personal reasons.

But there is a significant difference between an interim solution that works around someone's entirely understandable personal commitments and accepting a lesser arrangement on a permanent basis.

The strong bonds that are essential for a driver/engineer relationship to reach its potential take time; and starting again with someone at this stage of his career may be something that Verstappen does not want to do right now.

It is also worth stressing that Verstappen will understand why this decision has been made and what has prompted Lambiase to seek pastures new.

Verstappen was entirely empathetic towards Lambiase's situation last year and he will know this decision has not been taken lightly.

But there is a big difference between understanding someone's decision and being immune from the consequences of it.

Lambiase's exit from Red Bull, whether it has to wait until 2028 or an agreement can be reached for it to happen earlier, will surely therefore not help Red Bull's chances of retaining Verstappen long term.

This is especially true given he is already weighing up a sabbatical driven by his general dislike of the current regulations.

Verstappen has always said enjoyment is his number-one priority, with competitiveness coming after. But losing people he likes, trusts, and respects impacts both his enjoyment and the likelihood of success.

There may well come a point, if it has not already, where Verstappen looks around the garage, the place he speaks of so warmly as his second family, and thinks that while he is not surrounded by strangers, it is not the same team and family that he fought so hard for, and that has fought so hard for him.

And it is against that backdrop that the decision on his F1 future, and by implication what Red Bull's next few years look like, will hang.