A fruitful collaboration was formed between Christian Horner and Adrian Newey during their time at Red Bull.
Adrian Newey’s affection for Red Bull’s “principles” has been uncovered in resurfaced comments after the F1 design genius announced on Wednesday that he will leave the team.
Red Bull has officially announced that Adrian Newey, aged 65, will part ways with the team in early 2025, ending a week of intense speculation surrounding his future.
Resurfaced comments reveal Adrian Newey’s affection for Red Bull
Since joining Red Bull in 2006 after leaving McLaren, Newey has played a crucial role in the team’s achievements. He has been responsible for designing championship-winning cars for renowned drivers such as Sebastian Vettel and the current three-time World Champion, Max Verstappen.
The news of Newey’s departure comes amid rumours that he has received contract offers from both Aston Martin and Ferrari, with Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport claiming Ferrari could announce Newey’s arrival after this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix.
Throughout his illustrious career, Newey has often been associated with a potential move to Ferrari. The closest he came to joining the Scuderia was in 2014, when the introduction of F1’s V6 hybrid era marked the conclusion of Red Bull’s initial era of dominance with Vettel.
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After careful consideration, the designer ultimately decided to remain with Red Bull, but with a reduced role. Red Bull graciously granted him the opportunity to participate in non-F1 activities as well.
In a passage from How to Build a Car, his 2017 autobiography, Newey explained his reasoning for turning down Ferrari.
He expressed that the true essence of motor racing was embodied by Red Bull’s innovative culture, which involved giving opportunities to young drivers instead of hiring well-established superstars.
He highlighted the 2012 season as a testament to Red Bull’s unwavering work ethic, where Vettel managed to secure his third consecutive World Championship by defeating Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso. Despite a sluggish start to the year, with only one victory in the first 13 races, Vettel’s determination prevailed.
In his writing, he expressed how we transformed from a company that was once mocked and considered a newbie in the industry, known for our fun and lively fizzy drinks, to becoming the proud holders of the World Champions title for the fourth time.
“We had accomplished it in the traditional manner, adhering to principles that, in my view, embodied the genuine essence of motor racing.”
As I reflected on the start of the 2012 season, I proudly recalled how we persevered despite struggling to find the right car setup. Our spirits remained high, and we didn’t let disappointment weigh us down.
“We had focused and diligently worked on the issue until we successfully resolved it.”
I pondered on the progress we had made in nurturing young drivers rather than acquiring famous names, and how our efforts had contributed to putting Milton Keynes on the radar.
“Despite all obstacles, we have maintained our unwavering commitment to hard work. We have consistently chosen the unconventional path, even when confronted with seemingly insurmountable problems or complex technical hurdles.”
We always rejected the easy path, never settling for a comfortable life or complacently accepting mediocrity.
“We’d always continued innovating.”
Despite claiming in December 2023 that leaving the team at this point in his career would be akin to abandoning one’s own family, Newey’s announcement of his departure from Red Bull has now surfaced.
Appearing on the Formula For Success podcast alongside former Red Bull driver David Coulthard and team owner Eddie Jordan – who, as Newey’s manager, played a key role in negotiating his departure – Newey revealed he had “come close” to joining Ferrari on three separate occasions in total.
He expressed that Ferrari is an enchanting brand that captivates and entices almost everyone involved in motor racing when given the chance.
I have been approached three times now, and on one of those occasions, it was in IndyCars a long time ago.
“It’s an incredible brand, enveloped in an aura of mystique. Essentially, it embodies the essence of the Italian national team, bringing along both the advantages and disadvantages associated with it.”
One downside is that if your performance is subpar, you will face severe criticism and be subjected to harsh scrutiny. Conversely, if you excel in your work, you will be hailed as a national hero. Consequently, this creates additional pressures in its own right.
However, I need to make an effort to separate my emotions and approach it from a logical engineering perspective.
I have greatly enjoyed the teams I have worked with, especially Red Bull, as I have been a part of that team since the beginning, more or less.
I have played a central role in developing the engineering aspect of the team, so I feel quite at ease with this group. We are all familiar with our working dynamics.
I am aware that change is necessary at this point. I don’t mean to imply that I would never change, as it’s unwise to make such definitive statements. However, transforming now would feel akin to abandoning my family, considering the bond we share.
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