Wow.........the party really begins for all this lol :)...
Wow.........the party really begins for all this lol https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/newey-free-to-join-f1-rival-in-2025-red-bull-warned-of-unmitigated-disaster/10605434/ Newey free to join F1 rival in 2025, Red Bull warned of “unmitigated disaster” Adrian Newey’s agreed departure from Red Bull leaves him free to join a rival Formula 1 team next year, despite warnings of it being an “unmitigated disaster” for the squad. Jonathan Noble May 1, 2024, 4:07 PM Image Unavailable, Please Login Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool Red Bull announced on Wednesday morning that Newey would be leaving the world champion outfit early next year after deciding that he no longer wished to remain a part of the team. He will continue working for the Milton Keynes-based operation until the early part of 2025, which will involve finishing his RB17 hypercar, and will in the meantime attend specific races to work trackside – including this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix. However, it is understood that he will no longer play an active role in technical developments at the team and will not be involved in meetings on future car progress. While Newey originally had a contract that ran until the end of 2025, and had a further non-compete clause that could have sidelined him for another 12 months, his legal representatives have agreed with Red Bull to an earlier parting of ways. Red Bull has announced that Newey’s contract will end in the first quarter of next year, with it understood that from March he will in theory be free to join a rival outfit. Other teams have inevitably been interested in luring Newey on board, with Aston Martin and Ferrari both known to have made lucrative offers to secure his services. It is understood that Newey has ruled out any interest in going to Aston Martin, but Ferrari does remain an option – with it suggested that team principal Fred Vasseur met privately with the famed F1 designer on Tuesday to try to move things forward. And while no deal is in place yet, negotiations are likely to continue as Vasseur makes a personal push to try to convince Newey to join him in time for Lewis Hamilton’s arrival at the squad next year. The timing of Newey’s availability is not perfect in terms of hitting the ground running with the new 2026 car rules, as much of the design concepts will already be in place by the time he can provide his input. However, it still comes early enough for Newey’s influence to be felt and potentially have an impact in how things shake up for F1’s new rules era. One of Red Bull’s rivals says it is flabbergasted that the door is open for Newey to be available early enough to help for 2026 – as it could hurt the world champion squad so much in helping one of its main competitors move ahead. The situation has been likened to how then McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh agreed to let Brawn GP have customer Mercedes engines in 2009. This decision helped Brawn go on to win the world title and grab the works Mercedes deal from McLaren’s grasp – consigning its rival to years in the wilderness. A team principal, who did not wish to be identified, said: “It would be an unmitigated disaster for Red Bull if Adrian was let go early to join a competitor. “Christian would look like a complete fool. Just as Whitmarsh did at McLaren when he handed Brawn the keys to Mercedes, which kickstarted their years of dominance in F1.” Red Bull turmoil Newey’s departure from Red Bull comes off the back of early season turmoil from a power battle for control of the team. This was originally triggered by a female employee making a complaint about the behaviour of Horner, with the subsequent developments escalating into a civil war involving the Thai and Austrian energy drink's owners, plus other senior figures within the operation. Horner has tried to keep things under control at the team, but Newey’s exit will do little to calm those who fear that there could be further upheaval in the future. Rival teams have suggested that there has been an influx of interest for jobs from Red Bull personnel in recent months, while the future of star driver Max Verstappen remains uncertain. While Horner himself insists that the Dutchman is committed to the squad for the short term, this has not stopped Mercedes doing all it can to try to lure him away. Verstappen’s father Jos had already warned earlier this year that Red Bull risked exploding if Horner stayed in charge, and the Newey development has done nothing but further embellish his thought. Speaking to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf on Wednesday, Jos Verstappen was quoted as saying: “The team is in danger of falling apart. I was afraid of that earlier this year. “For internal peace, it is important that key people stay on board. That is not the case now. Newey is leaving and earlier this year it also looked like Helmut [Marko] would be sent away. For the future that is not good." Factions within Red Bull that have tried to get rid of Horner over recent months may renew their efforts now to see through on their bid in the wake of Newey’s departure, and use it as a warning of the need for change at the top to stop the squad breaking apart.
They sure wrote it very badly and many people have different interpretations. I’ve had an hour sleep in the last 2 days so blaming it on that
Nah you pay big money for Fred to lay the foundation then Elkann is brought in to close and be the big man in the picture with all smiles in the press. Executive power on display. Standard operating procedure for large multi-national concerns.
So confirmed. I think the biggest shock to me is he gets released in early 2025 and supposedly has no garden leave. That's enormous if true. My hunch says he's going to Ferrari which would be completely unsurprising. Lewis Hamilton always seems to have some inside info to make the best career move. I can't help but wonder if the filthy puppet masters behind the scenes (FIA/Liberty) had some influence. It just seems extremely strange that Red Bull would let Newey out of his contract early and lift the garden leave clause. That makes no sense whats so ever from a competitive stand point. But it conveniently aligns with Hamilton going to Ferrari for 2025. That's a big story, it will push ratings, it may also bring back some of that 2021 fire of Hamilton vs Verstappen. Sadly because of Hamilton I do not want Newey to go to Ferrari. Even if it helps Ferrari, I am so tired of that guy always being in the best cars to inflate his career. The weird circumstances that don't make sense. Newey snubbing Ferrari for years, but now it's okay with Lewis going there? Come on. I glimmer of hope says there is a chance he goes to Aston Martin. Is this why Alonso signed a long contract with them? He isn't known for great career choices so I kind of doubt it. But Daddy Stroll throws around all kinds of money, AMR is British and based in the UK. So maybe? Of course I would love to know why Newey decided to leave RBR in the first place. He is paid well, has the best team under him, the best driver, all the success. Why all of a sudden? Maybe there is some upper management divide that he doesn't want to be a part of, or maybe Jos has light the place on fire.
Again we are all speculating without having NO real informations about contracts or future datas concerning the real 2026 PU performances. Nevertheless some clues are obvious: 1/ Vasseur did a remarkable job and eradicate all Binotto’s mess. 2/Elkan decided Ferrari should have all the financial and human ressources to be back at the top. 3/Ferrari is a myth without no equivalent in the sport. Then is this so surprising they are now enough attractive to catch top engineers like Serra or Newey ? Ps : if I was Max I wouldn’t leave the ship for Mercedes next year. I’m not so sure Lewis or Charles will drive the 2026 Ferrari..
It would not surprise me if within ten years, maybe sooner, Red Bull is out of F1 entirely. I'm almost surprised they're still in it after Mateschitz's death.
True. Usually sponsors who invest heavily in F1, do it as part of a commercial campaign, not to stay forever. Red Bull has done more than most in advertising, and product awareness during the last 2 decades, mostly because its founder, Dieter Mateschitz, was a sport enthusiast who wanted to project a dynamic image for his brand. With him gone, the new management may estimate that the goal has been reach. They can rest on their laurels for a while, and slowly desinvest from some sporting engagements, now that Red Bull is a household name.
This certainly reads like he effectively quit immediately and will be on de facto garden leave until next March. If so, it appears he's highly motivated to leave and not just for retirement.
If you remember, Red Bull rescued the Jaguar team that flopped, and the next year Minardi. Those opportunistic purchases were welcomed at the time. One team was supposed to be their B team with no other role than to groom their new drivers.
We’ll just just keep with Hamilton being discouraged and trounced by everyone for now. It’s quite enjoyable. And 2025 will be what it is. Here’s to him never winning another race in his lifetime. He is no magic bullet. What worries me is Charles. He seems like a push over. Sainz is mentally tougher I feel. F1 has really turned into an extremely dramatic farce.
Lets hope that if Newey does move to Ferrari they dont find a way to screw it up with their own politics! There was only one "dream team" that worked out and that was under Jean Todt. While John Barnard's paddle shift car changed the sport forever, Ferrari didn't win any championships with it until much later. Hopefully Fred can repeat Jean's success! I think they had a more dedicated CEO then as well.
