Adrian Newey and the Alpine logo.
Flavio Briatore, reportedly wanted back in the fold by Renault CEO Luca de Meo, is said to have reached out to departing Red Bull design guru Adrian Newey in a bid to lure him to Enstone.
Renault’s F1 team Alpine has endured a frustrating start to the F1 2024 campaign, scoring just two points so far, with the team having undergone sweeping changes to its senior staff ranks over the last year. Briatore reportedly has a major role to play in continuing the rebuild.
Flavio Briatore ‘wants to bring Adrian Newey to Alpine’
Corriere della Sera claim that Briatore has accepted de Meo’s offer of ‘special supervisor’ to return to the team where he oversaw their 2005 and 2006 title doubles, but also the infamous ‘Crashgate’ scandal which triggered his exit.
Briatore is reportedly focused on recruiting top talent for Alpine to enhance their performance. Among the notable names on his target list is Newey, renowned for designing championship-winning cars for Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull. Newey is set to leave the Milton Keynes-based team in early 2025.
According to reports, Briatore has already engaged in discussions with Newey in an effort to bring him to Alpine.
The Alpine team’s spokesperson informed PlanetF1.com that they frequently engage with various industry experts to enhance their overall performance.
“We thoroughly evaluate all pertinent inputs and, when necessary, consult experienced individuals with proven success. However, we are unable to provide comments on specific individual cases.”
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Other teams are also looking to secure Newey’s services, and the 65-year-old has provided hope to these potential suitors by stating that Red Bull may not be his last endeavor in Formula 1.
When asked about his future, Newey replied in an interview with Eddie Jordan from Oyster Yachts, “Well, it’s a popular question right now.”
Had you posed the question to me 15 years ago, when I was 65 years old, whether I would genuinely contemplate switching teams, relocating to a different place, and dedicating another four to five years, I would have thought you were completely insane.
Afterwards, a series of events occurred simultaneously. My father, who was a veterinarian, possessed a deep passion for cars, and I believe that’s where my own interest stemmed from. Eventually, he expressed his desire to retire at the age of 60, and while he partially retired at 62, he relocated to Yorkshire with my mother. He continued working on a temporary basis until he turned 65, at which point he officially embraced retirement.
To be frank, it’s a bit sentimental for me to admit, but he seemed to have lost his sense of direction during retirement. I anticipated that he would find great joy in continuing to work on cars and engage in similar activities, but he somehow lost his enthusiasm.
I approached Bernie Ecclestone and Roger Penske, two individuals whom I deeply admire, seeking to understand their secret to longevity. These remarkable individuals have displayed exceptional mental and physical dexterity, defying their age, and I wanted to learn from their experiences.
Both of them reiterated the familiar belief that the brain functions like a muscle, requiring regular exercise to stay sharp and therefore necessitating ongoing engagement.
Furthermore, my passion for working as a designer in the field of motor racing has been a lifelong dream, beginning at the tender age of eight or 10. I consider myself fortunate to have not only achieved that aspiration but also secured my first job in the motor racing industry, where I have remained ever since. As a result, each day I experience feels like an added gift.
“I have such a strong passion for my work that taking a break might seem distant. Similar to Forrest Gump’s sentiments after his epic run, I admit to feeling a slight weariness right now. However, I anticipate finding renewed energy and embarking on another adventure in due time.”
In the history of Formula 1, Newey-designed cars have clinched a remarkable 25 F1 titles. Now, with Max Verstappen and Red Bull at the helm, they aim to increase that tally to 27 in the upcoming F1 season of 2024.
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