Have Ferrari once again lost out on signing Adrian Newey? As Ferrari’s talks with Adrian Newey broke down, Marc Priestley believes it wasn’t just money that reportedly swayed Newey to Aston Martin but the “freedom” to bring in his own team of engineers.
According to reports, Newey is poised to join Aston Martin, with confirmation expected in the coming weeks. The 65-year-old will leave Red Bull in the first quarter of next year, swapping Milton Keynes for Silverstone in a four-year deal worth $100 million. If true, this move is the latest effort by Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll, who is determined to turn Aston Martin into a championship-winning Formula 1 team.
“Lots of talk now that Adrian Newey either has or is about to sign a contract at the Aston Martin team worth an astronomical amount of money, $100 million is the number being bandied around,” Priestley shared on his YouTube channel. “They are one of the few teams that can afford that amount of money, one of the few teams that is willing to pay that amount of money and they are a team that is desperate for success.”
Priestley further elaborated that Stroll seems committed to doing almost anything to achieve success, throwing money in various areas, although sustainability remains a question. Can Adrian Newey be the man to change Aston Martin’s fortunes? While Aston Martin celebrates signing F1’s most successful designer with 25 championships won in his cars, Ferrari has again missed their chance.
Scuderia Ferrari were early favorites to sign Newey, but it appears that salary demands were not the only hurdle. According to AutoSprint, Newey also wanted the right to veto the hiring of new engineers, which Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur refused. However, Aston Martin may have agreed to this demand, granting Newey the “freedom and opportunity” that goes beyond just money.
Surer commented that hiring Newey might also come with the need to sign up to 20 other engineers that Newey wants in his team, a potentially destabilizing factor for some teams. However, it seems increasingly likely that Aston Martin could be his next destination.
The decision between Ferrari and Aston Martin for Adrian Newey appears to have hinged on more than just financial considerations. With Aston Martin willing to provide Newey with the autonomy he desires, his move could mark a significant turning point for the team’s fortunes in the future.
