Adrian Newey’s exit does not make Lewis Hamilton think that Red Bull will fall apart.
Lewis Hamilton has quashed suggestions that Red Bull could be undone by Adrian Newey’s departure, after all, he leaves behind a strong design team.
After weeks of speculation, Red Bull announced on Wednesday that Newey, the design guru applauded for Red Bull’s success in F1’s ground-effect aerodynamic era, would leave the team “after the first quarter of 2025”.
‘It’s not one person, it’s a whole team who do the job’
However, for now, his main priority will be the RB17 hypercar project as he has immediately concluded his involvement in Formula 1, except for a few grands prix that he may attend.
However, Hamilton firmly dismisses any suggestion that Red Bull’s design team will be weakened by his departure, emphasizing that it is not a job that relies solely on one person.
The seven-time World Champion, who lost the 2021 Drivers’ title to Max Verstappen in an RB16B designed by Newey, emphasized the importance of acknowledging the numerous individuals working behind the scenes rather than focusing on one key person.
The job is not done by a single individual, but rather by an entire team of people.
Given the incredible experience he possesses, it is expected that the individuals he collaborates with will consistently deliver outstanding performance.
“I expect Red Bull to continue building exceptional cars in the future.”
Red Bull F1 cars in the future, set to debut in 2026, will also showcase the remarkable impact of the design guru’s influence, as F1 is anticipated to maintain ground-effect aerodynamics.
Having driven a McLaren in 2007, which was an evolution of one of Newey’s cars, Hamilton can confirm the significance of that experience.
“Based on my viewpoint, I believe McLaren’s car had undergone an evolution by the time I joined,” he remarked. “It seems I arrived shortly after he had departed.”
“The car had evolved from a concept he had worked on, making me feel privileged to have had the opportunity to interact with something he had dedicated his efforts to.”
He further stated that competing against a team that he has been deeply involved with over the years has presented a significant difficulty.
PlanetF1.com recommends
Max Verstappen reveals crucial advice to Adrian Newey with Red Bull exit confirmed
Life after Adrian Newey: Meet the man set to take over Red Bull’s technical programme
Speaking to the media a day after the Newey announcement, Sergio Perez talked up the design department that the Briton leaves behind.
“He has been an incredible asset to our team, to our organization, so it’s clearly not ideal to see someone like Adrian [leaving],” he expressed.
In my opinion, Red Bull is situated in an excellent position, boasting a highly capable and robust team led by Pierre Waché, the technical director, along with Enrico Balbo, the aerodynamics chief, and Ben Waterhouse, the head of performance engineering.
We believe that the entire aero group is exceptionally robust, and we eagerly anticipate what the future holds.
In my opinion, history has shown that even when big teams or renowned individuals move on, they tend to thrive. The success doesn’t solely rely on one person’s abilities.
“I believe Christian Horner, the team principal, has done an excellent job in preparing Red Bull for the future. It’s not just a single entity, but a well-structured organization ready for the next generation.”
Read next: Some at Red Bull ‘quite pleased’ to see back of ‘capricious’ Adrian Newey, claims F1 pundit
