Adrian Newey has confirmed he’ll leave Red Bull in March 2025, ending months of speculation. The announcement follows his initial statement in May 2023.
Since joining Red Bull from McLaren in 2006, Newey has been a key player in the team’s success, contributing to multiple championships with drivers like Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen. His innovative designs and engineering skills have been crucial to Red Bull’s dominance in Formula One.
Newey has stepped back from the F1 team’s main responsibilities to focus on the RB17 hypercar project, yet he remained active at key races like the Miami, Monaco, and British Grands Prix. He continued to advise drivers and contribute to race strategies while also meeting potential RB17 customers. Newey mentioned to Motorsport.com that his role involved discussing strategies with drivers and interacting with RB17 customers. Despite his official retirement in March 2025, he assured that his involvement with Red Bull would continue in various capacities. Additionally, his son, Harry Newey, will continue to work on the RB17 project to ensure a smooth transition.
Meanwhile, Red Bull’s Formula One RB20 car, driven by Max Verstappen and Sergio Pérez, has not matched the dominance of its 2023 predecessor. This has led to questions about the drop in performance. Reports indicate that the problem might stem from the team’s decision to ignore critical feedback from Adrian Newey. An Italian motorsport website reported that Newey was highly critical of certain design elements of the RB20, including the cooling system changes. Despite his expertise, his opinions were overruled by the technical management team.
This incident indicates a wider trend of Newey’s diminishing influence on Red Bull’s car designs. Unlike previous models, where his vision was paramount, design responsibility for the RB20 was spread among several technical managers. This diffusion of authority seems to have led to design decisions that didn’t align with Newey’s approach. Internal dynamics at Red Bull have reportedly become more challenging for Newey, further complicated by controversies surrounding team principal Christian Horner.
Rumors about Newey’s departure have been circulating for some time. Initially, there were speculations about him moving to Ferrari, but now reports suggest a possible move to Aston Martin. Lawrence Stroll, the owner of Aston Martin, reportedly made Newey a generous offer, and they recently met to discuss his future. The BBC reported that Ferrari’s concerns about Newey’s potential influence and salary demands have opened the door for Aston Martin, which has lost technical director Enrico Cardile to Ferrari.
Newey’s confirmed departure marks the end of an era for Red Bull. His unparalleled expertise and innovative designs have been key to the team’s success. Red Bull now faces the challenge of navigating this transition period and finding new talent to fill the void left by Newey’s departure. The team’s future performance and ability to maintain its dominance in Formula One remain uncertain without its legendary designer.
Adrian Newey’s departure in March 2025 is a pivotal moment for Red Bull. The team must adapt to a new era without their iconic designer, and fans will be keenly watching how these changes unfold.
