Why Adrian Newey leaving Red Bull is a big deal and where can he go? – First position

A week after the rumor circulated in the media, it became official on Wednesday. Adrian Newey is set to leave the Red Bull Formula 1 team in the first quarter of 2025. The 65-year-old will end his nearly two-decade career with the Milton Keynes team and step down as designer of the team.

A Red Bull statement, ahead of this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix, said Newey would step back from his F1 design duties to “focus on the final development and delivery of Red Bull’s first hypercar, the highly anticipated RB17”.

Who is Adrian Newey?

Adrian Newey joined Red Bull ahead of their second season in Formula 1 in 2006 and has played a key role in the team’s success over the years, helping them move from midfield and points scorers to one Grand Prix winner and world champion.

In a period of pure dominance, Red Bull has won six constructors’ titles and seven drivers’ titles – between Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen respectively – since 2010 with Newey-designed cars. They are currently on track to do the double again in 2024 after a glorious start to the season.

The success hasn’t been limited to Red Bull. He also produced championship-winning cars at Williams and McLaren.

In total, he has won 12 constructors’ championships with three different Formula 1 teams and celebrated 13 drivers’ championships with seven different drivers who piloted his creations.

The team announces that technical director Adrian Newey will leave the Red Bull Technology group in the first quarter of 2025.

Engineering supremo to retire from Formula 1
design tasks will focus on the final development and delivery of Red Bull’s first hypercar, the… pic.twitter.com/FSSHqzieip

-Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) May 1, 2024

“Ever since I was a young boy, I wanted to become a designer of fast cars,” Newey said in a statement. “My dream was to become a Formula 1 engineer, and I was lucky enough to make that dream a reality.

“For nearly two decades, it has been my great honor to have played a key role in Red Bull Racing’s progression from newcomer to multi-title winning team.

“However, I believe this is an opportune time to pass the baton to others and to set myself new challenges. In the meantime, the final stages of development of the RB17 are upon us, so for the rest of my time with the team, I will focus on that.

“I would like to thank the many extraordinary people I have worked with at Red Bull during our journey over the past 18 years for their talent, dedication and hard work. This has been a real privilege, and I am confident that the engineering team is well prepared for the work leading to the final evolution of the car within the four-year period of these regulations.

Why is this so important?

The development follows allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior towards team principal Christian Horner.

Horner was cleared following an internal investigation by Red Bull’s parent company before the employee was suspended.

In March, Jos Verstappen, father of three-time reigning world champion Max Verstappen, said the Red Bull team would “explode” if Horner remained in his role.

Horner played a key role in bringing Newey to Red Bull in 2006 and the legendary car designer stayed despite serious interest from his competitors. But that relationship may have broken down following the controversy.

What future for Newey?

It was quite the #F1 career for Adrian Newey so far…

…12 Manufacturers’ titles with three different teams and 13 Drivers’ titles with seven different drivers! 🤯

Is he the real GOAT of Formula 1? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/jXlI5LrVgX

– Motorsport (@autosport) May 1, 2024

While Red Bull announced Newey’s departure in 2025, they did not reveal what’s next for the Briton. Reports suggest that Ferrari, who have signed Lewis Hamilton to drive for them next year, are favorites while Aston Martin is also seen as a potential destination.

According to media reports, the man who still uses a drawing board and pencil to draw his creations, has had discussions with at least half the grid over the years but has remained committed to Red Bull.

The Scuderia, under Fred Vasseur, is in the midst of a rebuild and Newey could play a key role in Formula 1’s return to dominance. Ferrari has not won a constructors’ title since 2008 and has not seen a driver to win the title since Kimi Raikkonen in 2007.

Newey has already said it was a shame not to have worked with Ferrari. He said in June last year that there had been at least two occasions in his career where he had come close to joining the Prancing Horse. He also expressed a desire to work with Hamilton.

Joining Ferrari would allow him to correct these two missed opportunities and give him the chance to try to become Italian team champion again.

Silverstone-based Aston Martin has also been linked to acquiring Newey’s services and has the financial muscle to do so. By joining Aston Martin, he would tick another box: working with Fernando Alonso.

Aston Martin, like Ferrari, is an opportunity to rebuild a famous brand – and the impressive facilities would give it the tools to do just that.

Out of nostalgia, he could imagine a return to Williams or McLaren and help rediscover their former glories.