Adrian Newey, the design guru of Red Bull F1.
Alex Albon offered insight into his “very cool” working relationship with Adrian Newey at Red Bull, as he opened the door for a reunion at Williams.
Newey’s tenure as the designer of championship-winning Formula 1 cars for Red Bull came to an end as it was announced prior to the Miami Grand Prix. The esteemed F1 icon is scheduled to part ways with the Milton Keynes-based team completely by the first quarter of 2025.
Williams ‘door always open’ for Adrian Newey
Having worked closely with Newey, one of Formula 1’s eminent designers, during his time at Red Bull from 2019 to 2021, Albon now finds himself playing a crucial role at Williams, Newey’s former team. In light of this, the Thai racer warmly invites Newey to come back if he so desires.
Williams team principal James Vowles has confirmed that some early conversations have been had with Newey, as it would be “remiss of me to not be talking to him”.
McLaren, a former team led by Newey, is part of the trio, along with Williams and Red Bull, that has benefited from his expertise in designing championship-winning cars. There have been rumors suggesting McLaren’s interest in rehiring Newey, and Ferrari and Aston Martin have also been mentioned as potential suitors for his services.
Albon expressed, “My knowledge is limited to discussing my connection with Adrian, the experiences we have shared. He is truly a wonderful individual, known for his humility and open-mindedness. I had a great rapport with him.”
It will certainly be intriguing to observe his upcoming actions. Undoubtedly, numerous teams are vigorously pursuing him in hopes of acquiring his services.
“Regardless of his decision, whether it’s retirement or racing, I extend my best wishes to him. Additionally, it’s important to note that our door will always remain open for him.”
Going further into his professional bond with Newey, Albon remarked: “He exhibited a strong connection to the driving aspect. He had a genuine curiosity about the sensations experienced while behind the wheel.”
In certain aspects, he had a grasp of the fact that the car must be arranged in a specific manner to maximize its potential.
“I have vivid memories from my time with Red Bull, where I witnessed a unique approach to work. While I cannot disclose specific details, the constant flow of ideas and philosophies from one race to another was truly remarkable. It was incredibly inspiring and fascinating to observe this process from an outsider’s perspective, witnessing how he operates.”
“It’s really fascinating to witness him at work, analyzing everything, amidst a multitude of chartered jets.”
More on Adrian Newey Formula 1 future
Helmut Marko clears up Adrian Newey ‘misunderstanding’ with new next F1 team predicted
Adrian Newey left ‘shocked and surprised’ over Red Bull exit reaction
Albon elaborated on how his involvement in enhancing Red Bull’s machinery significantly intensified during the 2021 season, where he remained in the background after losing his race seat to Sergio Perez.
While Newey was busy working in the simulator, he would seek Albon’s input on resolving specific problems.
Albon stated that he was heavily engaged in those activities and had frequent discussions with Adrian throughout 2021. This was the year where he predominantly focused on being a simulation driver and addressing the problems that arose in 2020.
Once more, we engaged in discussions about similar matters, delving into philosophies and identifying key areas that required our attention. Whenever he deemed something significant, he would consistently approach me after a simulation day to seek my perspective on the matter.
“It was a pleasant experience to have a connection with someone who is clearly highly influential.”
At this point, Newey has stated that he currently has no intentions of making a comeback in F1. However, he has not completely dismissed the possibility, especially with a significant regulatory revamp expected in 2026.
Read next: Adrian Newey left ‘shocked and surprised’ over Red Bull exit reaction
