After Adrian Newey announced his departure from Red Bull, Christian Horner is left questioning if he is leading a failing team.
Christian Horner has insisted that he “continues to enjoy a great relationship” with Adrian Newey after claims that a “falling out” played a part in the F1 design guru’s decision to leave Red Bull.
In a recent announcement, Red Bull revealed that Newey will be departing from the team in early F1 2025. Newey’s presence has been crucial to the team’s accomplishments, working closely with outstanding drivers such as Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen ever since joining from McLaren in 2006.
Christian Horner responds to Adrian Newey tension rumours
The confirmation of Newey’s departure comes after a rocky start to the year for Red Bull, who despite remaining dominant on track have been battling various off-track dramas – including an investigation into Horner’s conduct, which was dismissed in February.
Following the news of Newey’s exit, Sky F1 reporter Craig Slater claimed “a falling out” with Horner had influenced his decision to leave with the pair growing distant over the last 12 months.
Slater’s claim arrived after Newey’s wife appeared to take exception to Horner’s remarks last winter that Newey’s importance to Red Bull had diminished, taking to Twitter to described the long-serving team principal’s comments as “a load of hogwash.”
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Horner made it clear during the Miami Grand Prix press conference last weekend that he and Newey are still on good terms.
He disclosed that Red Bull has been making preparations for the departure of the design expert since 2014, when Newey almost joined Ferrari.
When asked about whether he is certain that Newey’s departure is not connected to the controversy surrounding Horner, the team boss stated that he had extensively discussed the matter with Adrian, and Adrian’s stance on the issue is very straightforward.
“Our relationship has been consistently wonderful, and it remains so. We are not only work colleagues but also friends, and he has made significant contributions to our team.”
Although we’ll be saddened by his departure, he has left the team in excellent condition. We have a fantastic group of individuals with exceptional abilities and extensive resources to lead us into the future.
Adrian has made the decision to step away at this point in time, after being in Formula 1 for almost 35 years. If you talk to Adrian and examine the statements he has made, you’ll see that he believes now is the right moment, considering the team’s strength, engineering capabilities, and his long-standing involvement.
“We were aware that this moment would arrive, so we have established a framework to seamlessly take over and continue. This preparation has been underway for the past five or six years.”
In my opinion, our technical team is in a favorable position for the future.
“We have long anticipated this day, and since 2014, when Adrian nearly departed, we have put together a framework for handling such situations.”
Horner derives great satisfaction from the fact that Red Bull has successfully retained Newey for a significantly longer duration compared to his previous employers in Formula 1, Williams and McLaren.
He added: “Unfortunately, nothing is forever.
“Adrian spent seven years at Williams, followed by another seven years at McLaren. We were fortunate to have him with us for a total of 18 years, which allowed us to experience numerous unforgettable moments both on and off the track.”
“It has been an incredible journey alongside Adrian. Not only is he a dear friend, but he also holds the esteemed role of being the godfather to my children. Despite the passage of time, our friendship remains unbreakable.”
According to reports, there are rumors circulating that Newey has received contract offers from Aston Martin and Ferrari. Prior to his departure from Red Bull, he allegedly met with Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur in London before heading to Miami.
Newey’s relocation to Maranello will result in the creation of an F1 superteam alongside Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. Hamilton, who revealed his plans in February, has committed to a multi-year contract with Ferrari starting from F1 2025.
During an interview with Sky F1 in Florida, the 65-year-old mentioned that he currently has no specific plans. However, he did not completely dismiss the possibility of returning to Formula 1 in the future.
He expressed his plans by saying, “Mandy, my wife, and I are considering traveling. We might opt for a motorhome and explore France, simply embracing the joys of life.”
“At some point, perhaps while standing in the shower, I might declare: ‘Alright, this shall be my next thrilling escapade.'”
Currently, there exists no plan at this moment.
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