Max Verstappen without race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase for second-straight weekend

Max Verstappen (R) and race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase
Max Verstappen (R) and race engineer Gianpiero LambiaseFLORENT GOODEN / Florent Gooden / DPPI via AFP
Reigning Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen will have to do without race engineer Gianpiero Lambiase for a second weekend running as the Italian-British engineer deals with private issues.

Lambiase also missed the previous race weekend in Austria due to personal reasons. This weekend's Belgian Grand Prix will be the second time in Lambiase's time with Verstappen that he'll miss a Grand Prix.

Simon Rennie will replace Lambiase in Spa-Francorchamps. The Brit is the former race engineer for Daniel Ricciardo.

Max Verstappen and Lambiase, who's also known as GP, started working together when the Dutchman joined Red Bull Racing in 2016. With Lambiase by his side, Verstappen won four consecutive World Drivers' Championships in Formula One.

Team principal Laurent Mekies will lead his first race weekend with Red Bull Racing this weekend after replacing Christian Horner. The experienced team principal was relieved of his duties earlier this month after a disappointing first half of the season.