Adrian Newey with notebook in-hand.
Adrian Newey has opened up on his decision to leave Red Bull, having confirmed his departure coming into the Miami GP weekend.
Adrian Newey, the Chief Technical Officer of Red Bull, will bid farewell to the team in early 2025, marking the end of his remarkable tenure of nearly twenty years at Milton Keynes. Throughout his time, Newey played a pivotal role in propelling Red Bull from a mid-table team to an unrivaled powerhouse in the world of motorsports.
Adrian Newey opens up on Red Bull quit decision
Despite parting ways with Red Bull, Newey has not yet disclosed his future plans, fueling rumors of a potential move to Ferrari.
However, the British engineer expressed that working with Red Bull has been an incredibly enjoyable experience. He admitted that leaving McLaren to join the former Jaguar team in 2006 was a significant career gamble.
“I have had an incredible journey for the past 18 years, starting with Red Bull when they were a young team, rising from the remnants of Jaguar. Working alongside Christian, we have built something extraordinary,” he shared with Sky F1.
To be honest, I had no clue about our ultimate destination when I first joined. Taking this career leap was indeed a significant gamble for me. However, the journey has been nothing short of incredible, and it has been an immense privilege to collaborate with the exceptional individuals at the factory. The race team, in particular, has been absolutely wonderful.
When questioned about his decision to announce his departure almost a year in advance, during the early stages of what seems to be another successful year for Red Bull, Newey referred to a difficult period in which he had been pushed to his limits.
In 2021, two significant events occurred in the world of regulations: the old regulations came to an end, and the revolutionary 2022 regulations were being developed. This meant that Newey had to devote his focus to both the ongoing development of the RB16B until the championship’s conclusion, and the refinement of the new ground-effect RB18 machine.
“Formula 1 is all-consuming,” he said.
“I have been engaged in this endeavor for quite some time now. The year 2021 proved to be exceptionally hectic due to the intense rivalry with Mercedes throughout the championship. Simultaneously, we devoted considerable effort to research and development for the RB18, the flagship of this new generation of vehicles.”
“I’m not sure. Eventually, I reached a point where I simply started to feel, in the words of Forrest Gump, ‘a little bit tired’.”
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Newey revealed that the thought of stepping away from Red Bull and Formula 1 had been on his mind for a while now, and it finally consumed him during the winter break.
He admitted, “To be honest, it’s been a little while now, maybe just a little bit over the winter.”
Given the unfolding events this year, I have come to realize how fortunate I am to be in a position where I don’t have to work for my livelihood. I choose to work because I derive enjoyment from it. However, I believe that the present moment is suitable for me to take a step back, pause, reflect on life, and embark on a journey of travel.
After a meeting with Ferrari boss Fred Vasseur during his journey to the Miami Grand Prix, Newey acknowledged the potential opportunity to switch to Ferrari. However, he clarified that at the moment he does not have any concrete plans.
He expressed his plan, stating, “Together with Amanda, my wife, and our dogs, we will likely embark on a motorhome journey and explore France, simply embracing the joys of life.”
“Perhaps, at an unknown future moment, while standing in the shower, I might think to myself, ‘Okay, this will be my next adventure.’ However, as of now, I have no specific plan in place.”
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