On this day in 2005, Red Bull Racing added a top-level recruit to its ranks, a man who would eventually become its most prized possession.
The Milton Keynes-based outfit, helmed by a 32-year-old Christian Horner at the time, secured the services of top F1 designer and aerodynamicist Adrian Newey.
It was a major coup for Horner who lured the British engineer away from McLaren after Ron Dennis had reportedly refused to give in to Newey's increasing financial demands.
"It's a massive recruitment for us," Horner said back then. "Given the choice of Adrian or Michael Schumacher, I'd go for Adrian every time. It's of that kind of magnitude.
"I think that it sends out exactly the right message in that we are totally serious about what we want to do and what we want to achieve."
It predictably took a bit of time for F1's design guru to settle in with his new team, but after finishing runner in the Constructors' standings in 2009, Red Bull went on to enjoy four consecutive world titles thanks to designs penned and overseen by Newey's genius and complimented by Sebastian Vettel's talent.
Nineteen years on from his arrival at Milton Keynes, Newey is set to open a new chapter in his illustrious F1 career, with a team – Aston Martin – whose ambitions to harness his unparalleled expertise mirror the eagerness Red Bull showed back in 2005.
Will history repeat itself?
©AstonMartin
