Red Bull’s Adrian Newey.
While Sergio Perez holds Adrian Newey in the highest regard, he warns that the “big teams” will “always succeed” and Red Bull have prepared well for his exit.
After continuous speculation, it was officially announced on Wednesday that Newey will depart from Red Bull “after the first quarter of 2025”. However, for the remaining duration of his association with the team, his primary concentration will be on their RB17 hypercar endeavor rather than Formula 1.
Sergio Perez confident on Red Bull life after Adrian Newey
Newey, one of the most esteemed designers in the history of Formula 1, is widely acknowledged for his instrumental role in Red Bull’s ascent to dominance during the ground effect era. This has led to speculation regarding Red Bull’s ability to maintain their position without Newey’s continued involvement.
Despite losing Newey, Perez is confident that Red Bull will remain unaffected. He acknowledges that it is not an ideal situation, but emphasizes that their accomplishments are not solely dependent on one person.
Perez expressed his disappointment at Adrian’s departure, stating that it is quite evident that someone like Adrian leaving is far from ideal. He highlighted Adrian’s significant contributions to both the team and the organization.
“He has become not only a very good friend of mine, but also someone I have spent a significant amount of time with.”
However, ultimately, there are moments in life when one might feel the need for change. After dedicating around 20 years to Red Bull, he may desire to pursue different endeavors. This inclination is completely understandable and reasonable.
I believe that Red Bull is situated in an excellent position and boasts a highly competent and formidable organization led by Pierre Waché as the technical director, Enrico Balbo as the aerodynamics chief, and Ben Waterhouse as the head of performance engineering.
“We have great confidence in the entire aero group and eagerly anticipate the future.”
“I believe that history has shown that even when prominent teams or individuals depart, they often go on to achieve success. It’s not solely reliant on one person, but rather the entire organization. Christian Horner, our team principal, has done an excellent job in anticipating and preparing for the future of Red Bull.”
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Perez verified that there were internal signs suggesting Newey’s potential departure, but emphasized once more that Red Bull’s achievements were the result of a team effort.
Perez stated that the individual in question is undoubtedly crucial to our organization. There have been discussions regarding this matter, and naturally, once it becomes public knowledge, it will be more advanced.
I believe that Christian and the entire team have been preparing for the possibility of losing any team member at some point.
Despite being a crucial player in our organization, he is just one part of a massive team in this large organization.
However, since Newey, a key figure in Red Bull F1, has decided to end his involvement, it has raised speculation about the possibility of other notable individuals also leaving the team.
Nevertheless, Perez strongly believes that Red Bull is not at risk.
Perez confirmed that he does not believe there will be any more Red Bull exits, stating that he believes everyone on the team is fully committed.
“Our team is once again having an exceptional season, and the future appears promising. It is only natural to witness such movement among certain individuals.”
However, I believe that the organization continues to be very strong and I do not anticipate any further changes in that aspect.
Newey, who has successfully crafted championship-winning vehicles for Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull, is a highly sought-after figure that any team would be eager to entice for an extension of his Formula 1 tenure.
Perez acknowledges that if Newey were to join another team, he would undoubtedly have a significant and instant influence. However, Perez also highlights that achieving the same level of success as Red Bull would require more than just Newey’s individual contributions.
“Adrian’s extensive experience has undoubtedly made a significant contribution to the Red Bull philosophy,” Perez stated. “Therefore, I have no doubt that wherever he goes or whatever he does, he will make an immediate impact.”
“He is an extremely intelligent individual and an incredibly dedicated worker. Collaborating with Adrian elevates his role beyond that of just a designer. He possesses the ability to impact not only design strategies but also the overall setup. Having him present during race weekends was truly invaluable.”
“He is undoubtedly a remarkably resilient individual, capable of making an immediate impact wherever he goes. However, it is evident that he also relies on a supportive group of individuals to accompany him.”
Red Bull appears poised to achieve a hat-trick of title doubles in F1 2024, signifying Max Verstappen’s consecutive fourth World Championship victory.
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