Adrian Newey, the most successful designer in F1 history, is reportedly set to announce his departure from Red Bull Racing.
The Milton Keynes-based outfit’s chief technology officer would part ways with the championship winning team at the end of the season according to reports from both German website Auto Motor und Sport and BBC Sport.
It is believed that the 65-year-old has been unsettled by the allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior leveled against Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, although the latter has denied the allegations.
AMuS contends that Newey is “unhappy about the power struggle in the team” and has sought to free himself from his contractual obligations with Red Bull which are believed to run until the end of 2025.
Whispers of discontent have surrounded the legendary designer since the beginning of the 2024 season, coinciding with the controversy engulfing Horner.
Furthermore, it has been rumored that Newey feels increasingly sidelined, with the team channeling its CTO’s focus more towards the RB17 Hypercar project due to F1's budget cap.
Adding fuel to the fire, Aston Martin has reportedly made Newey a lucrative offer as recently as the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
Newey's departure would be a seismic blow to Red Bull, even if the Briton has reduced his F1 workload in the past few years. The team’s engineering department also has a deep bench, led by technical director Pierre Wache.
Considered by many as F1's greatest car designer, Newey’s talent is fiercely sought after.
However, this isn't the first time the designer may be tempted away. Newey has previously rejected Ferrari's advances on three separate occasions, a decision he's admitted to having mixed feelings about.
Working with Ferrari and potentially Lewis Hamilton seem to be lingering "what ifs" for Newey.
As for Mercedes, the Brackley has always remained tight-lipped regarding any potential interest in Newey.
While the team boasts a strong design team, Newey's unmatched understanding of ground-effect aerodynamics, a crucial aspect of current F1 cars, would likely prove massively beneficial to Mercedes.
However, the impact of a Newey signing wouldn't be immediate, regardless of the team.
Contractual ‘gardening leave’ obligations and car development timelines mean his influence wouldn't be felt until 2026 or even 2027 at the earliest.
This coincides with the introduction of new engine regulations requiring entirely new cars, a scenario where Newey's expertise in adapting to fresh regulations has historically shone.
In the end however, Newey’s potential departure from Red Bull could simply signify his exit from F1 and a retreat to his second home in South Africa where he would be able to work remotely at a leisurely pace on various projects of interest.
Update: Red Bull responds to Newey departure reports
Red Bull has stated that the team has no reason to believe that Adrian Newey is considering a move to a rival Formula 1 outfit.
“Adrian is contracted until at last the end of 2025 and we are unaware of him joining any other team,” read a short statement from Red Bull.
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