Following Adrian Newey’s decision to leave Red Bull, Sky Sports F1 looks at the wider effect that the legendary designer’s imminent departure may have on the team.
On Wednesday, ahead of this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix on Sky Sports F1, Red Bull showed that Newey will leave the team in the first quarter of 2025.
The explosive news comes amid an era of sustained turbulence at Red Bull following its Austrian parent company’s investigation earlier this year into allegations of offside behaviour against team principal Christian Horner through a colleague.
The complaint against Horner, who denied the allegations, was dismissed on Feb. 28. The woman who filed the complaint has since appealed the outcome.
Amid an obvious struggle of forces at the top of the team that almost led to the departure of motorsport advisor Helmut Marko, speculation has also arisen as to whether three-time reigning world champion Max Verstappen could leave.
Newey has been with Red Bull since 2006 and has played a pivotal role in its next rise to an F1 superpower, leading the design of the cars that have helped the team win its thirteen world titles.
Sebastian Vettel won 4 consecutive drivers’ titles with the team between 2010 and 2013, Verstappen won the last 3 and ultimately dominated the early stages of the new 2024 season with Newey’s new creation.
Their recent creations have surely dominated the game since the existing ground effect regulations were introduced in 2022, with Red Bull winning 25 of the last 27 races.
Newey is one of the most respected and successful figures in the history of Formula 1 and had already designed several winning cars for McLaren and Williams before being convinced through Horner to sign for a new Red Bull team in 2006.
Red Bull confirmed in May 2023 that Newey had signed a contract extension until the end of the 2025 season, but he will now leave the team before the end of March next year.
Since the allegations against Horner were made public, most media outlets have focused on whether uncertainty at the top of the team could lead Verstappen to abandon a car that has earned him a point of historical dominance.
The saga came to a head at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in March when, as Marko was about to leave, Verstappen suggested he would simply leave the Austrian out of the team.
The scenario seems to have calmed down in the next 3 races, however, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said in particular in China last weekend that he – and the rest of F1 – were still “waiting” for Verstappen to make a resolution on his long career in 2025. The network is taking shape.
The comment from Wolff, who admitted he would “love” Verstappen to fill the void left at Mercedes by Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, seemed given the evident easing of tensions at Red Bull, as well as Mercedes’ problems on track, but now, all of a sudden, it makes a lot more sense.
Whether or not Wolff knew the Newey bombshell was coming, there is no doubt that his departure from Red Bull would diminish the team’s chances of maintaining its position at the front of the grid when new regulations are introduced for the 2026 season.
With Red Bull building its own engine for the first time for the 2026 season, Newey’s absence would raise a big question mark over whether they can create a car that can compete for the title.
Verstappen has a contract until 2028 but has admitted in the past that Red Bull’s ability to keep handing him a winning car would play a role in his good luck in the deal, which would involve buyout clauses.
It remains to be seen what the French-Dutchman has to say about Newey’s resolve when he faces the media ahead of the Miami Grand Prix.
Losing Verstappen and Newey would be an absolute crisis for Horner, but the latter is a seismic blow.
Horner has already received public calls for him to leave the team from the father of his star driver, Jos Verstappen, and will most likely now face renewed pressure.
While there are still influential figures in (or around) Red Bull who need Horner to resign, they have entirely new ammunition to make their case.
Instead of the brilliance of an RB20 that has seen Verstappen take four dominant wins in the first five races, the Miami driver will no doubt be at the start of Newey and its aftermath.
Answering questions in Saudi Arabia about Verstappen’s future, Horner insisted that no individual is bigger than the team, however, the fact that his presence appears to threaten the future of any of Red Bull’s most valuable assets would possibly lead some to wonder if it applies. Same regulations for yourself.
Newey will not be absent from the gardening and will therefore be able to sign up for a team within 12 months before the new 2026 F1 regulations, where the hierarchy will almost de facto change.
Newey’s likely ultimate destination in F1 appears to be Ferrari. In an interview with Sky Italia last year, Newey said he had already been “very tempted” to sign for the Italian side.
Newey also said last year that working with either Lewis Hamilton or Fernando Alonso “would have been fabulous” as the Briton has signed to drive Ferrari from 2025.
There is no doubt that Ferrari, which has failed to win the constructors’ championship since 2008, would seize the chance to move Newey up to a team amid a restructuring of Frederic Vasseur’s control.
Newey has also been linked with a move to Aston Martin, which would be a viable option if he wanted to stay in the UK.
Team owner Lawrence Stroll is determined to create a name challenger and could possibly offer Newey the lucrative top dollar.
Then there’s Mercedes, which desperately needs a recommendation in the technical branch after struggling to adapt to the design regulations brought to F1 in 2022.
Wolff has had no qualms about expressing interest in signing Verstappen, so it would be unexpected if the Mercedes boss didn’t give an honest answer when inevitably asked about Newey in Miami.
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Thursday 4:30 p. m. : Drivers’ press conference
Friday, May 33: F1 Academy Test 3 p. m. : Miami GP Practice One (session starts at 5:30 p. m. m. ) 8:20 p. m. : F1 Academy Testing 29 p. m. : Miami GP Sprint Qualifying (session starts at 9:30 p. m. m. )
Saturday May 4:25 p. m. : F1 Academy Qualifying 4 p. m. : Miami Sprint GP (race starts at 5 p. m. ) 6:30 p. m. : Ted’s Sprint Notebook 7:05 p. m. : F1 Academy Race 6 p. m. : Miami GP Qualifying Prep*9 p. m. : Miami GP Qualifying*11 p. m. : Ted’s Qualifying Notebook*
Sunday in May 17:05: F1 Academy Race 17:30: Grand Prix Miami GP Warm-Up Sunday*21:00: The MIAMI GRAND PRIX* 23:00: Miami GP Checkered Flag*Midnight: Ted’s Notebook*
*also at the Sky Sports Main Event
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