Lambiase was born in Bedford to Italian parents and studied at University College London, graduating with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He entered Formula One in 2005 with Jordan, remaining with the Silverstone-based team through its successive rebrands as Midland, Spyker, and Force India — a continuous association spanning eleven years.
During his Force India years, Lambiase worked as a performance engineer for Giancarlo Fisichella, helping guide the Italian driver to Force India's historic first pole position and podium at the 2009 Belgian Grand Prix. He subsequently became a race engineer, initially working with Vitantonio Liuzzi in 2010 and then Paul di Resta across three seasons. When di Resta was replaced by Sergio Perez in 2014, Lambiase spent one season with Perez before moving to Red Bull Racing.
At Red Bull, Lambiase was assigned to Daniil Kvyat as a racing engineer in 2015. When Kvyat was replaced mid-season by Max Verstappen, Lambiase retained the role and began what became one of the most successful driver-engineer partnerships in modern Formula One. In this capacity Lambiase manages all trackside radio communications with the driver and oversees car setup; Verstappen has frequently praised his directness and precision on the pit wall radio.
In 2022, Lambiase was promoted to Head of Race Engineering at Red Bull, succeeding Guillaume Rocquelin, while continuing as Verstappen's race engineer — a dual role he carried through the team's dominant 2022, 2023, and 2024 championship campaigns.
Following the announced departure of Sporting Director and Team Manager Jonathan Wheatley to Sauber (rebranding as Audi for 2026), Red Bull chose to divide Wheatley's responsibilities rather than appoint a direct successor. In October 2024 it was announced that Lambiase would become Head of Racing effective from the 2025 season, assuming oversight of the race, heritage, and car build departments and responsibility for strategic liaison and regulatory compliance. Within Red Bull's hierarchy he reports to Technical Director Pierre Wache and Team Principal Laurent Mekies, with Acting Head of Sporting Steve Knowles and Head of Race Team Operations Richard Wolverson reporting to him. He continued to serve as Verstappen's race engineer alongside the executive role.
During the 2025 Austrian and Belgian Grand Prix weekends, Lambiase was absent for personal reasons; on both occasions simulation engineering group leader Simon Rennie stood in as Verstappen's race engineer and assumed Lambiase's Head of Racing duties for the weekend.
On 9 April 2026, it was announced that Lambiase would leave Red Bull at the expiry of his contract at the end of 2027, joining McLaren no later than 2028 as Chief Racing Officer, reporting directly to Team Principal Andrea Stella.
Lambiase is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished race engineers in Formula One history. His partnership with Max Verstappen produced four consecutive constructors' and drivers' championship titles and is credited as a key operational pillar of Red Bull's sustained dominance from 2021 through 2024. His progression to Head of Racing and the subsequent recruitment by McLaren reflect the high institutional value placed on his technical and strategic judgment.