Adrian Newey, the ex-F1 design chief of Red Bull.
Helmut Marko believes losing Adrian Newey may have a psychological effect on young engineers wanting to work at Red Bull.
The chief technical officer of Red Bull is currently on gardening leave from the F1 division of the company until he departs for undisclosed opportunities during the middle of the 2025 season.
Helmut Marko: Adrian Newey’s departure won’t cause Red Bull any drama
Over the past two decades, Newey has been instrumental in reshaping Red Bull from a youthful and passionate underdog into an unstoppable force of success. In order to maintain continuity during the upcoming regulation cycle commencing in 2026, Red Bull has extended new contracts to their other senior technical management.
The group includes senior engineers Ben Waterhouse and Enrico Balbo, alongside technical director Pierre Wache. Additionally, it is anticipated that sporting director Jonathan Wheatley will finalize a new contract to continue his association with the team based in Milton Keynes.
The succession plan has been established in advance for Newey’s departure, and the 65-year-old is actively involved in ensuring smooth operations even after his departure from the company.
Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko is confident that the team will not experience an immediate decline in competitiveness when the renowned designer departs for good.
Marko, speaking to Formula1.de’s YouTube channel, referred to Newey as “a legend” and acknowledged his significant contributions to their success, as reported by Motorsport-Total.
He stated that the technical team has been extensively diverse during the interim period.
“We possess both promising young talents, such as Ben Waterhouse, and experienced veterans, like Pierre Wache. I am confident that their presence will not cause any disruptions for Red Bull Racing, nor hinder our technical proficiency and excellence.”
However, the impact of Newey’s departure will be most evident in the diminished appeal of Red Bull for engineers seeking to work with him as part of the team.
Marko stated that it is also a psychological factor.
Many young engineers may have joined our company primarily because they were attracted to the opportunity to work under Newey, who is widely recognized as the most successful designer.
In addition to his professional attributes, Marko expressed his fondness for Newey as a friendly and amiable coworker, stating that he would miss his presence.
“He possesses a remarkably affable and somewhat contemplative demeanor,” he remarked, “which sets him apart from the rest of the highly contemporary Formula 1 group.”
More on the latest Red Bull F1 news
Red Bull reveal ‘first option’ for F1 2025 seat and set deadline for decision
Sergio Perez reveals Red Bull contract talks underway amid term rumours
In 2024, Red Bull has faced more race losses in the initial seven Grands Prix than it did throughout the entirety of 2023. As a result, several teams, including McLaren and Ferrari, have emerged as strong contenders against the RB20 due to their convergence.
Marko stated that due to the fierce development cycle by all the top teams, it is evident that Red Bull faces a higher risk of being overtaken by the competition, especially considering how closely matched they are in the ground effect era.
He stated, “We either lost two races or did not emerge victorious.”
Melbourne and Miami, both street circuits, were the two locations where we faced challenges and no longer considered ourselves the dominant team.
“Will the reason behind this solely be attributed to the two street circuits? This aspect will gradually unfold as the season advances.”
If there is a gap, the top teams compensate for it to a greater extent with longer and more stable regulations.
As Red Bull approaches the maximum potential allowed by the current regulations, other teams have more room for improvement, leading to a tighter competition in the final 18 months before a major rule overhaul in F1.
Marko also holds the belief that the gap is narrowing as a result of the natural rotation of employees, as they tend to seek better positions either for higher compensation or to embrace new challenges.
“And naturally, every employee possesses their own expertise, as what resides in their mind cannot be constrained or hindered by any contracts.”
Read Next: Daniel Ricciardo exclusive: I’m absolutely ready to return to Red Bull
