Wednesday’s F1 news features the Adrian Newey Show, accompanied by a side order of Guenther Steiner.
There was only one F1 news story in town on Wednesday as Red Bull confirmed that Adrian Newey will leave the team.
We acknowledge that we frequently mention numerous events happening in the world during these nightly summaries, and today is no exception. However, tonight you are about to be informed about a truly groundbreaking day in the history of F1.
F1 news: Adrian Newey to leave Red Bull in early 2025
Red Bull confirm Adrian Newey exit
Yes, really.
In the wake of intense speculation for days and weeks, Red Bull has finally confirmed that Adrian Newey, the chief technology officer, will depart in the first quarter of 2025.
Before leaving, he plans to devote his time to the RB17 hypercar project, which is very dear to him and incorporates numerous F1 innovations he has developed over the years. As a result, he will temporarily step away from his Formula 1 design responsibilities.
Read more: Adrian Newey’s huge split from Red Bull confirmed after 19 years
Adrian Newey explains key reasons behind Red Bull departure
With all the recent speculation surrounding his future, Newey’s name has been widely discussed in the F1 news. Therefore, gaining insight from Newey himself in Red Bull’s press release provided a clear explanation for his departure from the team.
After occupying the pinnacle of their enterprise for an extended period, he desired to offer others the opportunity to showcase their talents while exploring new prospects for his own future endeavors.
Newey expressed his long-standing desire to become a designer of high-speed automobiles, stating, “From my early years, I have aspired to be a creator of fast cars,” when announcing his departure.
“I had always aspired to become an engineer in Formula 1, and I consider myself fortunate to have turned that dream into a reality. Over the course of nearly twenty years, it has been an immense privilege for me to play a pivotal part in the remarkable journey of Red Bull Racing, from a fresh entrant to a team that has secured multiple championship victories.”
Nevertheless, I believe the present time presents a favorable opportunity to pass on that responsibility to others and embark on fresh endeavors for my own personal growth.
Read more: Adrian Newey explains the main reason behind stunning Red Bull departure
Will Newey be forced to wait to join another F1 team?
According to PlanetF1.com, it is understood that if Newey intends to continue in Formula 1 by 2025, he will have the opportunity to do so through his involvement in the Red Bull RB17 project, which will also serve as his unofficial gardening leave period.
By the conclusion of the first quarter in 2025, he will essentially have the freedom to either transition to a new project or retire.
However, due to the conditions of his departure, he will be finalizing the RB17 before leaving. The RB17 is scheduled to be available for sale in the middle of 2025.
Read more: Adrian Newey’s gardening leave explained: How F1 legend will spend his final days at Red Bull
But are Ferrari preparing to swoop already?
For quite some time, Ferrari has been a known admirer of Newey. Over the years, they have made three separate attempts to bring him on board for their Formula 1 and IndyCar projects. Newey himself revealed that the last approach occurred in 2014, during Red Bull’s struggles to match Mercedes’ dominance with Renault’s power unit.
According to a report by La Gazzetta dello Sport in Italy, it is stated that Newey had a meeting with Ferrari’s team principal, Fred Vasseur, in London. The purpose of their discussion was to explore the possibility of Newey joining the Scuderia as early as 2025. If an agreement is reached, it is speculated that Newey may even contribute to the development of the 2026 car, considering the friendly terms of his departure from Red Bull.
Read more: ‘Here we go’ – Italian press claim Adrian Newey meets Ferrari in London for ‘immediate’ 2026 project
In other news… Guenther Steiner files a lawsuit against Haas
To conclude, let’s take a short break with some Newey respite.
Guenther Steiner, the ex-Haas team principal, is filing a lawsuit against the team for purportedly not paying him the agreed-upon commission during his last contracted years with the organization.
According to a court filing from North Carolina, this case pertains to unpaid earnings from 2021-2023. The filing stated that Haas F1 has been benefiting from Mr. Steiner’s reputation, experience, and extensive connections within the sport for years, and therefore, they cannot deny him the benefits he rightfully deserves.
When approached by PlanetF1.com, Haas declined to comment on the full extent of the amount Steiner is attempting to claim, which was withheld.
Read more: Guenther Steiner sues Haas over ‘owed commissions’ following abrupt departure
