During the post-race celebrations at the 2022 Spanish Grand Prix, Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez stand alongside Adrian Newey, representing Red Bull.
Former F1 driver Martin Brundle has claimed the signing of Adrian Newey is more crucial to a team’s hopes than any driver as speculation over the Red Bull design guru’s next move persists.
Red Bull announced earlier this month that Newey will leave the team in early F1 2025 having been a central figure behind the Milton Keynes-based outfit’s success with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.
Martin Brundle picks Adrian Newey over Max Verstappen for fantasy F1 team
With over 200 race victories and contributing to 13 Drivers’ and 12 Constructors’ World Championships, Newey holds the title as the most accomplished figure in F1 history.
Recent rumors suggest that Newey has been receiving contract offers from Ferrari and Aston Martin, and now the news of his departure from Red Bull adds fuel to the fire.
If Newey were to join Ferrari, it would create an F1 superteam comprising of Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time World Champion, and Charles Leclerc, who is widely recognized as the fastest driver on the current grid for one-lap racing. Hamilton had previously declared in February that he will be signing a multi-year contract with Scuderia starting from the next season.
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During an appearance on F1’s Beyond The Grid podcast, Brundle expressed his belief that if he were to establish a fantasy F1 team, Verstappen and Newey would be the two individuals he would choose to sign. Brundle further asserted that Newey’s appointment would be the most crucial one.
When asked about the significance of Adrian Newey compared to the driver in an F1 team, he responded: “Adrian Newey is the most important factor.”
“I would prioritize signing him first so that I can have the drivers of my choice.”
“If I were to bring in Brundle GP, the two people I must have are Max Verstappen and Adrian Newey.”
“Both of them were obtained by Red Bull, however, they have recently lost one of them.”
“Will they lose the other one?”
According to Brundle, only four out of the current 10 teams have a realistic chance of hiring Newey after he leaves Red Bull, as stated in his recent comments.
He stated that having Adrian Newey is pointless unless you possess substantial wealth and abundant resources.
There’s no point in having him sit in an office if you don’t provide him with the necessary resources and funds to implement his ideas effectively.
All the teams are expressing their contentment by saying, “No, no, we are genuinely satisfied with our current setup, thank you very much.” This sentiment arises both because there is a possibility of not acquiring him and because they do not wish to disturb the harmony within their existing team.
“Undoubtedly, Mercedes, Aston Martin, McLaren, and Ferrari will all be eagerly eyeing Newey and making efforts to secure him in some way.”
“It’s a double-edged sword; having Adrian’s experience and skills means you possess an advantage over others who do not have him, leading them to put in tremendous effort to acquire him.”
They should be if they are not.
Brundle proceeded to express his certainty that Newey, who is 65 years old, will come back to fulfill his duties in Formula 1. He stated that the modifications in the F1 regulations for 2026 perfectly align with Adrian’s expertise.
When questioned about Newey’s future in F1, he responded, “I believe he will stay. He possesses a strong competitive drive.”
Although he is a friend of mine and a man with strong principles, I believe he might become somewhat bored, particularly when considering that Rory Byrne, who is 80 years old, still holds a contract with Ferrari while being based in Thailand or some other location.
Adrian is the perfect fit for mastering the intricate active aerodynamics of the 2026 regulations.
However, it is important not to undermine the contributions of other individuals, such as Pierre Waché (Red Bull technical director), as there are many highly intelligent people involved.
There are numerous individuals present, and it is incorrect to claim that a single person can have a significant impact. However, I can assure you that Adrian, throughout his journey, managed to contribute by making a few crucial adjustments and suggesting ideas that ultimately made a significant difference. It was his expertise, intuition, and understanding of the necessary requirements that played a crucial role.
In the future, it would be surprising if he doesn’t eventually become associated with a Formula 1 team.
“I’d be amazed, in fact.”
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