Saturday’s F1 news roundup sparks more rumours about Adrian Newey amid his potential departure from Red Bull and an update on Carlos Sainz’s proposal to move to Audi.
Wait, it’s time to scan the day’s news at breakneck speed. . .
A clip has resurfaced in which Adrian Newey admits that leaving Red Bull “would be like leaving your family” amid rumours that the F1 design legend is pinned on the team.
Despite the team’s continued good luck at the track, several earlier reports this week claimed that Newey had signalled his intention to leave Red Bull, which would be a major blow to the reigning constructors’ champions.
In an appearance on a podcast that expired last year, Newey detailed his deep affection for Red Bull and his admiration for Ferrari.
Read more: ‘Get out of your family’: Adrian Newey’s resurgence as Red Bull exit rumours swirl
It has been claimed that Audi is no longer pushing for Carlos Sainz to make a quick decision as the outgoing Ferrari driver continues to compare his characteristics for F1 2025.
Sainz has been heavily linked with a switch to Sauber for next season ahead of Audi’s long-awaited entry into F1 2026, with the team announcing the signing of Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg on Friday.
Reports in recent weeks had indicated that Sainz is facing a deadline to accept an offer from Audi, but following recent developments in the car market, Audi would now be willing to wait.
Read more: Carlos Sainz’s long-term implications detailed after key Audi resolution: report
Martin Brundle has warned that Adrian Newey leaving Red Bull and signing for an opponent would be a “double whammy”, giving the lucky team “access to his experience and genius” and preventing everyone else from enjoying it.
In recent weeks it has been claimed that Newey got contract offers from Aston Martin and Ferrari, and that both teams will take advantage of the uncertainty at Red Bull.
Brundle believes the race to point to Newey is on, with a successful team poised to grow stronger and its warring parties weaker.
Read more: Martin Brundle highlights Adrian Newey’s ‘double whammy’ if Red Bull loses its guru to a rival
A former Ferrari engineer believes Adrian Newey’s potential departure from Red Bull could lead to a mass exodus of the reigning constructors’ champions.
Newey has been a central figure in Red Bull’s good fortunes over the past two decades, designing winning cars for Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.
The effect of Newey’s departure was the retirement of Michael Schumacher, which marked the end of an era at Ferrari in 2006.
Read more: Red Bull exodus predicted after Adrian Newey’s departure via former Ferrari engineer
Nico Rosberg has put a figure on the exorbitant Mercedes salary he left on the table with his decision to retire from F1 at the end of his victorious 2016 season.
Rosberg was crowned world champion in 2016, overcoming a tense season finale in Abu Dhabi to beat Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton by five points.
Five days later, the German, the F1 world champion, announced his retirement immediately before the FIA awards ceremony in Vienna.
Read more: Nico Rosberg’s huge Mercedes salary remains on the table after F1’s surprise retirement