Red Bull design boss Adrian Newey is leaving the team following controversy surrounding allegations against team principal Christian Horner. BBC Sport reported that Newey, considered the greatest F1 designer of all time, has told Red Bull he wants to move forward. Mr Horner, 65, has been concerned about the situation at Red Bull after an employee accused him of sexual harassment and extortion, which Mr Horner denies. Red Bull and Newey did not respond to requests for comment.
The British design chief has close links with Ferrari and is known to have received offers from Aston Martin, but now that his potential signing has been revealed, he has been linked to all major teams. They are likely to be interested. Newey’s contract at Red Bull runs until the end of 2025, but he is said to believe he can negotiate an exit that would allow him to work for another team from next season.
His desire to leave Red Bull was first reported by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport newspaper, but this information has been independently verified by BBC Sport with senior sources close to Red Bull and Newey. They confirmed that his desire to leave was due to dissatisfaction with the situation surrounding Horner, which has led to a multifaceted power struggle at Red Bull. After an internal investigation, the team cleared Horner of any wrongdoing.
The plaintiff, who was subsequently suspended, appealed this decision. Horner and Red Bull’s motorsport consultant Helmut Marko are in a dispute, as are Chalerm Yuvidya, a major Thai shareholder who backed Horner, and Austria’s Red Bull, which initially wanted Horner fired. . Newey has been with Red Bull since 2005, and has been with the team for two years: from 2010 to 2014, when he won four consecutive drivers’ and constructors’ titles with Sebastian Vettel, and in the current era with Max Verstappen.
He led an era of dominance. Last year, Verstappen and Red Bull had one of the most dominant seasons in F1 history. The Dutchman won 19 of the 22 races, and his team won all but one race. He has won four of the first five races this season and is on track to achieve a similar performance. Newey had previously enjoyed some success in the championship with both Williams and McLaren. Newey, Red Bull’s head of technology, no longer works full-time on F1, but is involved in other projects for the company, including the upcoming RB17 supercar.
And Horner has occasionally highlighted the strengths of Newey’s team, led by technical director Pierre Wasch. However, the head of design remains the brilliant mind responsible for the team’s successful car concepts, and his departure will be a huge blow. This could further upset Verstappen, as he is known to have concerns about the team’s internal situation. Verstappen, whose contract runs until the end of 2028, has been asked several times to give Horner his full support, but he has always given vague answers.
However, he has repeatedly emphasized his desire to remain in Red Bull’s top team, saying at last weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix: “I signed a long-term contract. All I’ve said from the beginning is that I want a peaceful atmosphere.” We’ve been talking about the environment, and lately, cars. “I’m happy with it, I’m happy with the team and there was no reason to leave.”
Verstappen is contractually entitled to withdraw from the race if Marko loses his position, but Verstappen retained the Austrian’s position when it became clear that his position was under threat at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in March. I tried my best to do so. Although Newey is not expected to have the same freedoms if he leaves, the departure of such a totemic and influential figure would be seen as a great loss. Mercedes have openly courted Verstappen, with him hoping to poach him in 2025 or 2026.
