2024-05-01 09:39:38
By Le Figaro with AFP
Published 13 minutes ago, Updated now
Formula 1. The Williams model that Colapinto can test and the car that changes color depending on the race”>Red Bull team principal Christian Horner in discussion with chief engineer Adrian Newey. ANDREJ ISAKOVIC / AFP
Considered one of the greatest engineers in the discipline, the Briton leaves the reigning world champion team.
Briton Adrian Newey will leave the Red Bull Formula 1 team at the beginning of 2025, of which he has been the engineer for many years, the reigning world champion team announced on Wednesday.
Considered one of the greatest engineers in F1, “Adrian Newey will leave Red Bull in 2025 after 19 years”, wrote in a press release the team of the three-time reigning world champion, the Dutchman Max Verstappen. The reason for his departure was not specified.
The team, which has been crushing the competition for two seasons, has further clarified that the engineer will now move away from F1 to devote himself full time, and until his departure, to the project of the first hypercar car of Red Bull.
“My dream was to be a Formula 1 engineer, and I was lucky enough to make that dream a reality”explains the engineer in the press release from his team, adding that “the time is right to pass the baton to others and seek new challenges for myself”.
13 titles in 20 seasons
Newey, 65, has worked for Red Bull since 2006. He designed the cars that brought the Milton Keynes-based team six constructors’ world championship titles between 2010 and 2023 and seven drivers’ titles with Sebastian Vettel (from 2010 to 2013) then Max Verstappen (from 2021 to 2023).
“His vision and genius helped us win 13 titles in 20 seasons”greeted team director Christian Horner.
The reason for his departure, which has not been specified at this stage, could be linked to the controversy which affected Horner, targeted by accusations of “inappropriate behavior” towards an employee earlier this year, and the many turmoil it caused within the team, according to the BBC. Horner, who always denied the accusations, was cleared in late February following an internal investigation.
The specialized site Motorsport also returns to the hypothesis of a deterioration in relations between Newey and Horner, the latter having notably stated last year that, if “Adrian plays an important role in this team and in what we have accomplished (…), his role has evolved over the last few years”. “The technical team under his command, led by Pierre Waché (the French technical director of Red Bull, editor’s note), is doing a fantastic job, so it does not depend on Adrian”he added.
This turmoil in the ranks of the Austrian firm, however, had no repercussions on the Red Bull’s racing performance.
After five Grands Prix raced this season, the team largely dominates the constructors’ world championship with 195 points compared to 151 for its runner-up, Ferrari. In the drivers’ standings, Verstappen, winner four times already this season, is in the lead with 110 points, ahead of his Mexican teammate Sergio Perez (85 pts).
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