Is Adrian Newey the key to Aston Martin’s transformation into title contenders?
Aston Martin have suffered a major blow in their efforts to sign Adrian Newey from Red Bull, it has been claimed, with the F1 design legend reportedly wary of team owner Lawrence Stroll.
After days of speculation over his future, Red Bull confirmed on Wednesday that Newey will leave the team early next year.
Aston Martin fall behind in race to sign Adrian Newey from Red Bull?
Newey, renowned as the most accomplished person in the realm of F1, boasts an impressive record of surpassing 200 victories in races, securing an astonishing 13 Drivers’ championships and 12 Constructors’ championships. His instrumental role in Red Bull’s triumph cannot be understated, as he has masterfully crafted championship-winning vehicles for esteemed drivers such as Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.
The announcement of his departure is expected to escalate the competition for securing Newey’s services, as speculations have circulated in recent weeks about Aston Martin and Ferrari extending offers to enlist the 65-year-old for their respective teams.
During the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend in Jeddah last March, reports surfaced stating that Aston Martin owner Stroll had extended a highly profitable proposal to Newey. The intention was to take advantage of the internal uncertainties within Red Bull.
PlanetF1.com recommends
Follow PlanetF1.com’s WhatsApp channel for all the F1 breaking news!
Ranked: The top 10 most successful Adrian Newey Formula 1 car designs
From 2016 to 2020, Newey collaborated closely with Aston Martin during their sponsorship of Red Bull, spearheading the advancement of the Valkyrie road car.
In addition, Aston Martin successfully convinced Dan Fallows, who had worked closely with Newey at Red Bull for several years, to join their team as the technical director starting in 2022. They made this announcement in May of last year, along with the news that Honda, Red Bull’s current technical partners, would be supplying engines for Aston Martin’s Formula 1 team when the new rules are implemented in 2026.
Newey has expressed his “regret” for not having the opportunity to collaborate with Fernando Alonso, who recently agreed to a contract extension with Aston Martin until at least 2026. In an interview with the BBC last year, he mentioned that he holds a great deal of admiration for the two-time World Champion.
Unfortunately, the team’s chances of securing Newey’s services have been diminished as it has come to light that the departing Red Bull individual has serious concerns regarding Stroll himself.
According to a report by Motorsport.com, Newey is “not considering” Aston Martin’s lucrative offer with his attitude towards Stroll described as “rather reserved.”
There are concerns that Newey is worried about Stroll’s intention to leverage his signing to increase the worth of Aston Martin, ultimately aiming to sell the team for financial gain.
According to a recent Bloomberg report, Stroll is reportedly engaging in initial discussions to sell a minority share, potentially up to 25 percent, of the Aston Martin team. This move is driven by his desire to take advantage of Formula 1’s current surge in popularity.
In November of last year, Aston Martin embraced new investors in the form of US private equity firm Arctos Partners, who acquired a minority stake in the company.
Concerns have been raised about the compatibility of Newey’s personality with the notoriously demanding Stroll ever since rumours surfaced about Aston Martin’s interest in him.
In 2017, Newey expressed his weariness of Ron Dennis’s meticulous management approach during his time at McLaren before joining Red Bull in 2006. He referred to Dennis as excessively dominating.
It was revealed last week by F1 analyst Peter Windsor, who previously worked with Newey at Williams in the 1990s, that Newey has already turned down Aston Martin’s offer. Windsor also mentioned that financial factors are unlikely to play a significant role in Newey’s decision-making process.
Windsor addressed the rumors of Newey’s departure on his YouTube channel, stating that he was aware of offers made by Aramco and Aston Martin, but Newey had declined despite the substantial financial incentives.
“I believe this is the current state of the Aston situation, and it doesn’t come as a surprise to me because I don’t believe Adrian is driven by financial gain. Money isn’t a motivating factor for him.”
In my opinion, the key factors to consider are his enjoyment of racing and how well it aligns with his other life goals.
“Even if you were to give him a billion pounds right now, it wouldn’t have a significant impact.”
I believe it could have been possible around 10 years ago, or perhaps even 8 years ago. However, at present, I highly doubt it.
I believe he has surpassed that stage and now has the freedom to do whatever he pleases, in whichever way he prefers.
Based on my understanding, he has already declined that offer, so I would be astonished if he chooses Aston. Nevertheless, there is still a possibility.
Ferrari is now widely seen as the clear frontrunner to secure Newey’s signature, as Aston Martin appears to be falling behind in the race.
Throughout his remarkable career, Newey has been on the verge of joining the Scuderia multiple times. One particularly memorable instance was in 2014, when the arrival of F1’s V6 hybrid era marked the conclusion of Red Bull’s initial era of superiority alongside Sebastian Vettel.
Ultimately, he made the decision to remain with Red Bull in a diminished capacity, granting him the flexibility to invest his efforts in ventures beyond Formula 1, such as the Aston Martin Valkyrie.
According to a recent report from Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport, it was revealed on Wednesday that Newey has recently had a meeting with Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur. There is a possibility of an announcement being made after the upcoming Miami Grand Prix.
Newey’s departure from Red Bull was confirmed exactly three months after Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time World Champion, announced on February 1 that he would be joining Ferrari on a multi-year contract starting from F1 2025. As part of the agreement to join the Scuderia, Newey would establish an F1 superteam at Maranello alongside Hamilton.
Newey’s departure from Red Bull is believed to include provisions that enable him to join another team promptly after leaving early next year. This remarkable achievement, orchestrated by the 65-year-old and his manager, Eddie Jordan, a former F1 team owner, allows him to break free from a contract that was originally set to continue until the end of 2025.
In the statement released by Red Bull on Wednesday, Newey expressed his gratitude to his “close friend and manager”.
During an appearance on the Formula For Success podcast, Jordan hinted that Newey’s retirement is currently the most probable next step. This news comes after Newey commissioned a yacht last November, with plans to sail around the world.
Jordan reminded everyone that he had endured constant pressure while being in Red Bull.
If he decides to take a break and relax for some time, it would be understandable to everyone. It seems more probable that he would do that instead of immediately pursuing any other job opportunities.
There have been some slight changes as he has aged a bit.
“[Red Bull] boasts an exceptional team, comprising highly skilled drivers and personnel. Considering this, it would be wise for them to contemplate and potentially pursue a change in their future endeavors.”
On Wednesday, Newey made an announcement while Red Bull was leading in both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships. Verstappen, the reigning three-time World Champion, has been victorious in 48 out of the last 71 races, dating back to his first championship-winning season in 2021.
Read next: Adrian Newey’s gardening leave explained: How F1 legend will spend his final days at Red Bull
