Red Bull confirms Adrian Newey's departure after 19 years

After months of speculation, Red Bull Racing has officially confirmed that their Chief Technical Officer, Adrian Newey, will depart from the Formula 1 team in early 2024.

This announcement signals the end of an era for the Milton Keynes-based outfit, as Newey has been the driving force behind their remarkable success over nearly two decades.

Newey's Immense Contribution

Adrian Newey joined Red Bull in 2006 and has played an instrumental role in the team's rise to dominance.

His exceptional engineering prowess and innovative designs have propelled Red Bull to seven drivers' and six constructors' championship titles.

"Ever since I was a young boy, I wanted to be a designer of fast cars," Newey reflected. "My dream was to be an engineer in F1, and I've been lucky enough to make that reality."

Transitioning to New Challenges

When Adrian Newey departs from Red Bull early 2025, he will be a free agent without any obligations for gardening leave.

His availability is expected to attract attention from major competitors like Ferrari, Mercedes, and Aston Martin.

While stepping back from his F1 duties, Newey will remain involved in the development of Red Bull's highly anticipated RB17 hypercar project until its completion.

This hypercar, set to be unveiled at Goodwood in July, represents a new challenge for the engineering supremo.

"I feel now is an opportune moment to hand that baton over to others and to seek new challenges for myself,"

Newey stated, indicating his desire to explore fresh opportunities beyond Formula 1.

A Lasting Legacy at Red Bull

Team Principal Christian Horner paid tribute to Newey's invaluable contributions, acknowledging his pivotal role in Red Bull's success.

"All of our greatest moments from the past 20 years have come with Adrian's hand on the technical tiller," Horner said.

"His vision and brilliance have led us to 13 titles in 20 seasons. His exceptional ability to conceptualize beyond F1 has inspired grand prix car design, and his remarkable talent for embracing change has helped us find the most rewarding areas of the rules to focus on."

"His relentless will to win has elevated Red Bull Racing to a powerhouse beyond what even the late Dietrich Mateschitz might have imagined.

Future Prospects and Speculations

While Newey's next career move remains uncertain, speculation abounds about his potential involvement with Ferrari.

Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur did not travel with the team to Miami for this weekend's Grand Prix.

Instead, Vasseur reportedly flew to London, with the stated purpose of meeting Adrian Newey in person to potentially finalize a deal that has been rumored for some time.

The report suggests Newey could join the Maranello-based team as early as next season.

If an agreement is reached, an official announcement is likely to follow after the Miami Grand Prix weekend.

The Italian team has long sought to lure the design legend as part of their efforts to regain their championship-winning form.