Adrian Newey, the design genius behind Red Bull’s F1 team.
Adrian Newey has been linked with a switch to Ferrari as his Red Bull tenure ticks towards its end, a signing which Charles Leclerc is encouraging his team to make happen.
Before the Miami Grand Prix, a surprising announcement declared that Newey’s association with the Red Bull Formula 1 team would come to an end. He plans to fully depart from the Milton Keynes-based squad “after the first quarter of 2025”. In the meantime, he will dedicate his efforts to the RB17 hypercar project.
Charles Leclerc feels Adrian Newey ‘can make a difference’ at Ferrari
It is uncertain if Newey will continue his Formula 1 career, where he has established himself as one of the most accomplished designers in history. However, if he decides to embark on another F1 venture, there have been speculations that Ferrari could be a prominent option for him.
In their ongoing efforts to catch up with the dominant Red Bull team, Ferrari has made multiple attempts to secure Newey’s signature in the past. Leclerc firmly believes that having Newey on board would significantly enhance their chances of success.
Leclerc expressed his extreme happiness at the prospect of Newey joining Ferrari.
“I believe Adrian is the kind of individual in the paddock whom you aspire to collaborate with at some point in your professional journey.”
At present, our team at Ferrari is truly exceptional. Over the past seven to eight months, we have made remarkable progress and emerged as the most improved team. Incorporating Adrian into a team of this caliber would be truly extraordinary.
I believe our team is currently experiencing a highly favorable period and we are on an upward trajectory.
Fred, our team principal, and I have always been on the same page when it comes to our long-term goals for the team. We have had open discussions about our ideas, and the collaboration has been very successful so far.
I am extremely pleased with our progress and believe we are in an excellent position to attract top-notch individuals from across the globe.
Although I’ve mentioned it before, I must reiterate that we are already an exceptional team. Over the past seven to eight months, we have made remarkable strides in our progress.
However, anyone or anything that can contribute to its strength is extremely important, and Adrian is one of those individuals who can truly make a positive impact.
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Red Bull driver Sergio Perez tried to downplay the notion that Red Bull might struggle to maintain their dominance in the ground effect era of Formula 1 without the influential figure of Adrian Newey, who has recently announced his departure from F1 duties.
Leclerc refrained from commenting on the impact of Newey’s departure on Red Bull, but he emphasized that Newey’s ability to make a difference has been proven.
Leclerc remarked, “Could it potentially undermine Red Bull? While acknowledging the collective effort of every team member, certain individuals hold greater significance, and Adrian has undoubtedly proven himself as one of them. His track record indicates that whenever he joins a team, they achieve remarkable success.”
Well, it’s tough for me to provide a comment since I’m not fully aware of the dynamics within the team. However, it’s clear that Adrian’s availability as an engineer is noteworthy and highly sought after by everyone in the paddock.
Carlos Sainz, the teammate of Leclerc in Ferrari, expressed that it is difficult to gauge the impact of Newey’s departure on Red Bull. However, he believes that Newey played a significant role in their exceptional achievements.
Sainz responded, “I cannot say for sure if Newey’s departure will weaken Red Bull. As I am not affiliated with the team, I am unaware of his significance and contribution to their success.”
“I can only speculate, but considering Red Bull’s consistent success over the years, it is safe to assume that he played a crucial role in that project. The extent of his contribution is difficult to determine without insider knowledge. However, it is widely known that he is highly esteemed as one of the most valuable engineers in the entire paddock.”
Sainz is currently seeking a new team in the F1 grid for the 2025 season as Lewis Hamilton is expected to replace him at Ferrari.
With his future still uncertain, Sainz once again remained vague when questioned about the possibility of a more balanced competition arising in Red Bull F1 without Newey’s involvement.
Sainz responded, “Currently, it doesn’t have any impact on me or my personal circumstances. Therefore, I cannot provide extensive comments on it.”
“I am unsure of his destination and his intentions remain unknown to me. Therefore, we shall wait and see.”
Throughout his illustrious career, the F1 cars designed by Newey have amassed an impressive 25 titles.
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