Adrian Newey has signed a new deal with Red Bull to end the hypothesis of an imaginable team swap, something David Coulthard never anticipated.
Newey looks like one of the greatest designers Formula 1 has ever seen, his winning touch covering spells with Williams, McLaren and now Red Bull.
A total of 11 constructors’ titles have been won with Newey’s designs, and this tally is expected to rise further, with Red Bull ideally silhouetted to direct the dispatch of those ground-effect Formula 1 challengers, given that this aerodynamic styling is the subject of his university thesis.
Red Bull’s rivals were well aware of the risk posed by Newey and indeed reported that Mercedes boss Toto Wolff had asked a colleague to call Newey in an attempt to get him to Brackley.
But if such attempts were made, they failed, and Red Bull adviser Helmut Marko confirmed that Newey had agreed to new terms to continue his deal with Red Bull, which began in 2006.
And it has been predicted through David Coulthard, who drove for Red Bull from 2005 to 2008 and played a key role in Newey’s charm for Red Bull, that this is where the 64-year-old will see his Formula 1 career.
“He’s been with the team for so long, he’s in his sixties, the question is whether he needed to take on a new challenge with some other team,” Colthard told Channel 4. All the teams were looking for him.
He has made a long-term commitment to Red Bull, it will be his Formula 1 team.
Adrian Newey won a phone call from Mercedes to come out and point him out – report
Red Bull’s first sackings under scrutiny as Nyck de Vries faces mounting pressure
Such a prediction fits perfectly with that of Marko, who after confirming the news that Newey is staying at Red Bull, revealed that he expected Newey to retire with Red Bull.
“Adrian has been with us for 17 years and although it is not a lifetime contract, he has won hot gifts from the festival and will continue to do so,” Marko told Auto Bild.
“I hope and hope he retires with us. “
Red Bull’s Newey-inspired trophy closet looks to be even busier when F1 2023 is all said and done, the team ultimately untouchable with 4 one-two grand prix wins so far.
Red Bull’s lead in the constructors’ standings already puts them 122 points ahead of Aston Martin, while drivers’ championship leader Max Verstappen is 14 points ahead of teammate Sergio Perez and 44 points ahead of Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso.