Christian Horner says the evolution of Red Bull’s technical team has enabled them to fully utilize the expertise of legendary designer Adrian Newey while simultaneously grooming the next generation of engineering talent.
Newey, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in F1 history, joined Red Bull from McLaren in 2006, bringing with him a wealth of experience and a string of championship-winning designs.
In recent years, as Newey's involvement in the day-to-day design process has diminished due to his expanding portfolio of projects, Red Bull has adapted its structure to ensure that his knowledge and guidance remain invaluable to the team.
At the core of this evolution lies the role of technical director Pierre Wache, who has emerged as a pivotal figure in bridging the gap between Newey's expertise and the day-to-day operations of the design team.
Wache's leadership has fostered a collaborative environment where Newey can provide strategic direction while the team's younger designers gain invaluable experience under his mentorship.
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But Horner insists that Red Bull’s tech department can function under Wache’s leadership independently and without Newey’s intervention.
"Adrian is a big part of this team and big part of what we've achieved," commented Horner, speaking exclusively to Motorsport.com.
"But of course, his role has evolved over the last few years and the technical team beneath him led by Pierre Wache, they're doing a wonderful job and so that they're not reliant on Adrian.
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"He has the ability to come in, come out and work on other projects and I think that's part of the evolution of any team.
“We're stronger for having Adrian with us, but of course the rest of the team is evolving."
Horner’s inclusion in King Charles III's New Years Honours list is a testament to the Briton’s remarkable career in Formula 1.
Like Newey, Horner received over the years “a few” offers from rival teams, including Ferrari. But like his CTO, the 50-year-old team principal’s heart remains firmly entrenched at Red Bull.
"It's always very flattering when you receive an offer or interest from another team, but my heart is here," he said.
"I've built the team, I bought in from the very beginning, I feel a responsibility to the people and the shareholders and all the partners that we have."
Contrary to his arch rival Toto Wolff who owns a 33% stake in Mercedes’ F1 outfit, Horner is not a co-owner of Red Bull Racing. And that suits him just fine.
"Red Bull has always owned 100% of the team and the team has always had the tremendous support from the shareholders,” he explained.
"I've always treated the team with a responsibility that it was my own money to make sure that we spent it wisely and responsibly."
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