In 2009, Jenson Button emerged victorious over Red Bull and their formidable engineer Adrian Newey, securing his sole F1 championship.
Jenson Button, the 2009 World Champion, has hailed Adrian Newey’s Red Bull exit as “probably a good thing” for F1, claiming his departure could create more competition at the front.
On Wednesday morning in the UK, it was officially announced that Newey will be leaving Red Bull in the spring of next year. This departure grants him the freedom to promptly join another team if he desires. Newey, a design legend, will be moving on from his current position at Red Bull.
Jenson Button hopes Adrian Newey’s Red Bull exit re-energises F1
The departure of Newey, who has designed title-winning cars for the likes of Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen over the course of almost two decades at Red Bull, is a massive blow to F1’s reigning Constructors’ Champions.
Button, the victor who thwarted Vettel’s Red Bull to secure his sole championship victory a decade and a half ago, feels disheartened if Newey’s choice stems from personal motives.
However, there have been rumors suggesting that the 65-year-old has received contract offers from Aston Martin and Ferrari. The former Honda and McLaren driver believes that Newey’s departure could bring new energy to the sport.
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During his appearance on the Sky F1 podcast, he expressed, “He holds the title of being the finest designer globally. His thought process operates on an entirely different level compared to the majority of individuals.”
Although I haven’t had the opportunity to collaborate with Adrian Newey in Formula 1, I’ve had to compete against his cars for numerous years, and witnessing the meticulous attention to detail invested in his creations has consistently left us in awe.
“In my Championship-winning year with Brawn, we witnessed the impressive progress of Red Bull and the remarkable achievements of Adrian Newey within a remarkably brief period.”
It is evident that he is not accomplishing this on his own. To achieve such greatness, one requires a remarkable team of individuals supporting them. However, despite the challenges posed by the passing decades, he has managed to stay up to date and continuously create exceptional Formula 1 cars.
It’s unfortunate that he isn’t happy considering Red Bull’s impressive performance currently.
However, from a sporting perspective, it would likely be beneficial if he were to be seen with another team, as it would provide them with a chance to showcase their skills.
Developing a car is a lengthy process that spans over several years, not something that can be achieved overnight. Additionally, I believe there would be a restriction preventing him from collaborating with another team for a considerable period.
According to my sources, it seems that he won’t be able to leave until 2027, and until then he’ll be on gardening leave. So, it’s safe to say he won’t be lending a hand to any team until 2029, which is quite far off in the future.
However, it is evident that Red Bull is being adversely affected by this situation, and it likely has a negative impact on the team dynamics as well. It is disheartening to know that the key individual responsible for the consistent development of their exceptional car is dissatisfied and considering leaving the team, if this is indeed true.
“It is undoubtedly a significant event, the most notable occurrence in Formula 1 in recent times.”
Recalling his experience of driving Newey’s classic Jaguar at the Goodwood Revival event, Button expressed admiration for the F1 design guru’s meticulous attention to detail.
He shared, “A couple of years ago, I had the fortunate opportunity to drive his Jaguar E-Type at the Goodwood Revival.”
“These cars may not be F1 cars, but they are classic vehicles. Nonetheless, the level of intricate detailing he put into them was absolutely remarkable.”
“He entered carrying a collection of books filled with detailed information about the car, meticulously tuned components, and numerous drawings he had skilfully crafted depicting the vehicle.”
“He possessed an intricate knowledge of every minute aspect, and the car stood out with its exceptional performance. It outpaced any other vehicle by a remarkable two-and-a-half seconds. Moreover, considering it being a classic car, our options for modifications were severely restricted.”
“So, this clearly demonstrates that regardless of his actions, he will always strive for excellence and is not merely a passive participant.”
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