In a surprising turn of events, Amanda Newey has addressed the swirling rumors about her husband Adrian Newey’s involvement in Red Bull Racing’s team decisions. As Yuki Tsunoda gears up to drive the Red Bull RB21 for the remainder of the season, speculation had arisen regarding Adrian Newey’s alleged influence over the promotion and demotion decisions within the team.
Helmut Marko, the senior advisor at Red Bull, recently elaborated on the reasoning behind the team’s decision to elevate Yuki Tsunoda over Liam Lawson. Marko explained these moves pointing to Tsunoda’s past inconsistencies on the track. There was a specific incident back in Mexico where Tsunoda collided with Pierre Gasly, leading to a chain of events that damaged Max Verstappen’s car and cost him the race. This episode reportedly left Adrian Newey fuming, contributing to a narrative that he might have hindered Tsunoda’s progress in the team.
Marko’s comments suggested that, at that time, the decision to bring Lawson on board was seen as justified given his immediate performance under pressure, unlike Tsunoda’s unpredictable track record. However, in retrospect, the choice might not have been optimal, and with Adrian Newey stepping back, Yuki has improved his standing significantly within Red Bull.
Amanda Newey addressed these claims head-on, clarifying that her husband, Adrian, had no role in influencing Red Bull’s recent roster changes. “That doesn’t make sense,” she responded, noting that Adrian was on garden leave, an evocative term implying a withdrawal from active duties. Her statement was punctuated with an eye-roll emoji, underscoring her frustration at the persistent rumors.
It’s pertinent to note that Adrian Newey had indeed announced his departure from Red Bull Racing at the start of 2024. His focus had shifted towards the development of the RB17 hypercar, and by September, he was on gardening leave after attending a few initial races. Eddie Jordan later confirmed on the Formula For Success podcast that Newey’s transition was well planned, stipulating a contractually agreed date by September 6, after which Adrian was no longer involved in Red Bull affairs.
Therefore, Amanda’s assertion holds water—by the time the Mexico incident occurred in late October, Adrian Newey was no longer in a position to affect Red Bull’s driver selections. Further solidifying this, Adrian has recently surfaced at Aston Martin, starting his new role in March 2025, which coincides with Yuki’s promotion timeline.
Amanda Newey’s clarification provides a clearer understanding of the circumstances surrounding Red Bull Racing’s internal decisions. Her comments dismiss the notion that Adrian Newey exerted any influence on Yuki Tsunoda’s career at Red Bull, reinforcing the fact that by the time crucial decisions were made, he had already embarked on his journey with Aston Martin. This development sheds light on the strategic dynamics within Red Bull and highlights the ever-evolving landscape of Formula 1 team management.
