Adrian Newey’s departure from Red Bull has been officially confirmed, scheduled for the initial quarter of 2025.
Adrian Newey’s actual departure from Red Bull doesn’t come for almost a year, and he’ll be a free agent when he does.
Adrian Newey, who has been with the Milton Keynes-based squad for nearly 20 years, is officially departing Red Bull, confirming the long-standing rumor that has been circulating for the past few weeks.
Adrian Newey leaves Red Bull in early 2025
Christian Horner and Red Bull made a significant coup in the mid-2000s when they managed to convince Adrian Newey, who had already achieved numerous world championship titles as a technical director at Williams and McLaren, to leave Woking and join their team.
Newey’s exceptional technical skills propelled Red Bull, a young and ambitious team, to secure victories in 2009 and claim the title of world champions in 2010. Ever since, Red Bull has consistently showcased their competitiveness, except for a brief period when they faced challenges due to using the comparatively less potent Renault engines during the early hybrid era.
There is no doubt that the departure of Newey will be a setback for the team, given Red Bull’s current dominance in F1. However, the team has established a highly efficient F1 technical structure, with Newey’s role as chief technical officer overseeing all areas. This structure is led by technical director Pierre Wache and head of aerodynamics Enrico Balbo.
At first, it appeared unlikely that Newey would join another team. Given his age of 65, he would have to complete his current contract and a year of gardening leave before he could start working for another employer, meaning he would be 68 years old.
However, it appears that the strong bond between Newey and Red Bull has resulted in an agreement that will enable Newey to become a free agent in the team market earlier than expected, provided he chooses to remain involved in F1.
Newey has officially started his gardening leave period as he takes a step back from direct work on the F1 team. Although he will be present at a few chosen Grands Prix, such as the upcoming Miami Grand Prix, this will not reset the countdown, indicating a mutually agreeable separation.
As Martin Brundle pointed out earlier this week, teams that possess sufficient funds and resources have likely been pursuing Adrian Newey for quite some time.
Once he becomes available, it presents a double advantage for any team, as they gain access to his valuable experience and genius, simultaneously preventing another team from acquiring his services.
PlanetF1.com recommends
Red Bull RB17: The £5million hypercar with huge Adrian Newey influence
Ranked: The top 10 most successful Adrian Newey Formula 1 car designs
It appears that Red Bull is not determined to use all available means to prevent Newey from leaving and enforce his current contract, which was extended for three years until the end of 2025. This suggests that the team in Milton Keynes is unwilling to pressure Newey into continuing when he has clearly lost interest.
After completing his year-long “gardening leave,” Newey is set to depart from Red Bull in early 2025. He will become a free agent and shift his attention towards the development of the RB17 hypercar in Red Bull’s automotive side project. With Formula 1 no longer being his primary focus, Newey will dedicate his efforts to the car’s production, which is scheduled to commence in mid-2025.
Once Newey becomes a free agent in a year, the question arises: what will he choose to do next? Given his reputation for being competitive, it is possible that he may be enticed by a new project at renowned companies such as Mercedes or Aston Martin, especially if staying in the UK is still an important factor for him.
What about Ferrari? There is still a possibility for Newey to collaborate with Lewis Hamilton at the Scuderia if Maranello manages to entice him away from the UK and convince him to help bring the Scuderia back to the forefront of F1 with the new regulations.
Newey’s departure from Red Bull coincides perfectly with the introduction of new regulations, granting him a valuable window of opportunity to contribute to a team’s preparations. Starting from January 1st, 2025, teams can commence aerodynamic and CFD testing, allowing their designs to progress significantly before Newey gets a chance to evaluate them.
Is it possible that Newey just wants some time to himself? Considering his dissatisfaction with the current state of F1 and his extensive experience in motorsport, it’s likely that the 65-year-old British designer desires some solitude. He may also entertain the idea of starting a new project to combat any potential boredom that retirement might bring.
Make sure to remember the date when he announced his departure from Red Bull, the team he considered his “family.” May 1st holds a significant place in Newey’s life as it marks the tragic day in 1994 when Ayrton Senna lost his life while driving a machine designed by Newey.
After revealing the challenging period he endured in his book, Newey has decided to mark the 30th anniversary of that event by announcing his departure from the project that he significantly contributed to establishing.
By the time next year arrives and his gardening leave is over, what will Newey decide? Will he opt for a new team and a fresh challenge, or will he take a peaceful sabbatical to contemplate his own future?
Read Next: Adrian Newey exit: Why Red Bull legend’s departure is ‘a good thing’ for F1
