Adrian Newey, the mastermind behind many of Red Bull Racing’s successes, is stepping away from his role as the chief technical officer. With whispers of internal friction and potential future moves, the F1 community is buzzing.
Newey, who announced his departure prior to the Miami Grand Prix, cited feeling ‘a little tired’ in an interview with Martin Brundle. Known for his ingenious car designs, he has been a pivotal figure at Red Bull alongside Christian Horner. However, speculation about internal conflicts and a possible shift to another team has added intrigue to his exit.
During the Monaco Classic Grand Prix, Newey hinted at a possible return to F1 after some rest and relaxation. This fueled rumors about his dissatisfaction with the current dynamics at Red Bull and whether he may join a rival team in the future. Interestingly, Newey’s absence seemed to have an immediate impact on Red Bull’s performance, as they struggled during practice sessions in Italy.
Despite the challenges, Max Verstappen managed to secure a record eighth consecutive pole position. This weekend, however, saw more questions about how Red Bull would manage without Newey. Team Technical Director Pierre Wache emphasized that the team would move forward without his input, excluding him from all key design meetings to safeguard intellectual property.
While Newey remains involved with Red Bull’s RB17 hypercar project, his role in F1’s day-to-day operations is clearly winding down. The RB17 is set to be unveiled at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in July, signaling a near end to Newey’s involvement.
Rumors of Newey joining Ferrari have circulated, and it’s said that Ferrari has approached him multiple times throughout his career. Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur, while not confirming the speculation, acknowledged Newey’s impressive track record. Under Vasseur’s leadership, Ferrari has shown signs of resurgence, and integrating a talent like Newey could further boost the team’s prospects.
Red Bull seems to believe that Newey might indeed join another F1 team, which perhaps explains why they allowed him to cut his garden leave short. Ferrari, being a likely candidate, could gain significantly from his expertise.
Adrian Newey’s departure from Red Bull marks a significant shift in the F1 landscape. While his future remains uncertain, his potential move to Ferrari could bring a new chapter in F1 engineering excellence. Meanwhile, Red Bull and the rest of the paddock will keenly feel the absence of their design guru.
