Adrian Newey is understood to have held talks with Ferrari this week after being released early from his Red Bull contract, a departure which was confirmed by the world championship-winning team on Wednesday.
A move to Italy would partner F1’s most successful designer with Lewis Hamilton, who will join the Scuderia from Mercedes next year.
The deal has not yet been finalised, but informed contacts suggest that Ferrari wants Newey, 65, to act as its “super-consultant”. He currently earns £15million a year and could double his salary in a possible move.
It is hoped it can start in time to play a pivotal role in the development of the next generation of Ferrari ahead of a major revamp of regulations in 2026.
Italy’s La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that Newey spoke to Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur in London on Tuesday, a fact Mail Sport indicated was correct. We can further reveal that several key F1 figures were in London this week, including Red Bull CEO Oliver Mintzlaff.
Red Bull has confirmed the imminent departure of F1’s most successful designer, Adrian Newey.
Team boss Christian Horner (pictured with wife Geri Halliwell) will have to do without the brains behind Red Bull’s design.
Newey is a legendary F1 designer and could take over his services from Ferrari after his departure
Newey’s departure is an obvious blow to Red Bull and embattled boss Christian Horner, the team principal who brought Newey from McLaren to Red Bull almost 20 years ago. Since then, they have won seven drivers’ titles in two spells together, through Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.
Newey will continue to attend races with Red Bull this season, including Miami this weekend. Today he will travel there on Horner’s plane.
Newey will continue working on his beloved RB17 supercar project before leaving the company next spring.
Red Bull insists Newey’s departure is not directly related to the sex scandal that has engulfed the team since an employee made allegations of coercive behavior against Horner in February, but is instead driven by growing resentment over how he has not been fully credited for the team’s success.
He also almost resigned last year, but accepted a better offer.
The scandal, which has left Horner, 50, cleared in an internal investigation, subject to an ongoing appeal, further agitated the situation. It is understood that Newey felt that Horner was getting too much attention and that credit for his own contribution was shared unequally with his French design colleague, Pierre Wache.
Newey’s upcoming availability is a big boost for Hamilton, 39, as he seeks a record eighth title, this time in red. Newey is the greatest technical guru Formula One has ever known, having triumphed with Williams, starting with Nigel Mansell’s 1992 championship dominant car, and with McLaren, before being poached by Red Bull. In total, the nerdy genius is behind 25 dazzling driver and builder titles.
We understand that Newey will either join Ferrari (the most likely eventuality) or retire. There is no other team he would imaginably join.
“Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be a fast car designer,” Newey said. “My dream was to be an engineer in Formula One and I have been lucky enough to make it a reality. For almost two decades, it has been a great honor for me to have played a key role in the progress of Red Bull Racing from a newcomer to a team winner of multiple titles.
‘However, I feel that now is an opportune time to pass the baton to others and seek new challenges for myself. In the meantime, the final stages of development of RB17 are upon us, so for the rest of my time with the team my focus will be on that.
Horner paid tribute to ‘true legend’ and ‘friend’ Newey as the world champions confirmed his departure.
The Red Bull boss, who has won seven world championships with Newey, paid tribute to the outgoing veteran
Newey could now join Lewis Hamilton (pictured) at Ferrari as they bid to win an eighth world title.
“I would like to thank the many incredible people I have worked with at Red Bull during our journey over the last 18 years for their talent, dedication and hard work. It has been a true privilege and I am sure the engineering team is doing well. prepared for the work prior to the final evolution of the car during the four-year period established by this regulation.
“On a personal note, I would also like to thank the shareholders, the late Dietrich Mateschitz, Mark Mateschitz and Chalerm Yoovidhya for their unwavering support during my time at Red Bull, and Christian, who has not only been my business partner but also a friend of our respective families. Also, thanks to Oliver Mintzlaff for his direction and to Eddie Jordan, my close friend and manager.’
Horner added: “All of our greatest moments of the last 20 years have come with Adrian’s hand at the technical helm. His vision and brilliance have helped us to 13 titles in 20 seasons. His exceptional ability to conceptualise beyond F1 and provide broader inspiration for grand prix car design, his remarkable talent for embracing change and finding the most rewarding areas of the rules to focus on, and his relentless will to win have helped Red Bull Racing. to become a greater force than I think even the late Dietrich Mateschitz could have imagined.
‘More than that, the last 19 years with Adrian have been a lot of fun. For me, when Adrian joined Red Bull, he was already a superstar designer. Two decades and 13 Championships later he leaves as a true legend. He is also my friend and someone to whom I will be eternally grateful for everything he contributed to our association. The legacy he leaves will resonate through the halls of Milton Keynes and the RB17 Track Car will be a fitting testament and legacy to his time with us.”
