In May 2023, Christian Horner and Adrian Newey jubilantly celebrate their team’s victory in Monaco.
Christian Horner has responded to the departure of Adrian Newey in just under a year’s time, having worked together for almost two decades.
The renowned car designer is set to leave Red Bull towards the end of the first quarter of the 2025 F1 season, almost a year after the initial announcement of his departure from the team.
Christian Horner: Adrian Newey has a relentless will to win
After being captivated by the 2006 F1 season, Newey joined forces with Red Bull, ultimately contributing to the design of the 2007 Red Bull car, marking his initial involvement with a vehicle originating from Milton Keynes.
From then onwards, Newey has played a pivotal role in the development of cars during two distinct periods of dominance. The first stint occurred from 2010 to ’13, during which Sebastian Vettel secured four consecutive titles. The second stint began in 2022 and persists to the present day, with Max Verstappen’s continued domination of the sport.
After a remarkable tenure of nearly twenty years at Milton Keynes, Newey has decided to part ways with Red Bull, and quite possibly bid farewell to Formula 1. During his time there, he played a pivotal role in transforming a nascent, small-scale F1 team into a powerhouse, earning them a place among the most triumphant entities in the sport’s annals.
As Newey also takes part in the development of the upcoming RB17 hypercar, slated for production in 2025, team principal Christian Horner expresses his appreciation for Newey’s contributions as he embarks on a new chapter.
Horner stated that Adrian has been instrumental in guiding us through all our most significant moments over the past two decades.
“Thanks to his exceptional vision and brilliance, we have achieved an impressive record of 13 titles in just 20 seasons.”
Red Bull Racing has surpassed even the late Dietrich Mateschitz’s expectations, thanks to his extraordinary knack for envisioning beyond F1 and incorporating diverse sources of inspiration into the design of grand prix cars. Additionally, his remarkable adaptability to change and ability to identify the most advantageous aspects of the rules have played a significant role in their success. Above all, his unwavering determination to emerge victorious has propelled Red Bull Racing to become a formidable force in the sport.
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Furthermore, the past 19 years spent with Adrian have been filled with immense joy and excitement.
Adrian was already a superstar designer when he joined Red Bull. After two decades and 13 Championships, he now leaves as a true legend. He is not only my friend but also someone I will forever be thankful to for all the contributions he made to our partnership.
“The impact he leaves behind will resonate within the walls of Milton Keynes, and the RB17 Track Car will serve as a befitting tribute to his tenure with us.”
Newey’s association with other F1 teams like Ferrari and Aston Martin has been well-known. However, there is no concrete evidence suggesting that the British designer is departing to join another team. According to sources familiar with the matter, it is believed that Newey might be feeling tired of F1 as he nears four decades in the sport. Therefore, taking a break or retiring altogether could be the next step for him.
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