Ferrari is reportedly making efforts to secure the services of Adrian Newey, the current technical chief of Red Bull Formula 1, once he becomes available in early 2025. Newey, who has been with Red Bull for nearly two decades, is set to leave the team in the first quarter of 2025. This is a significant development as Newey’s contract, which was recently renegotiated and originally set to end in 2025, is believed to include a 12-month non-compete clause. If enforced, this would prevent Newey from joining another team until 2027, well into a new set of technical regulations that he has been known to exploit effectively.
However, with the assistance of his close friend and manager Eddie Jordan, Newey has managed to secure an early exit from Red Bull, allowing him to potentially join another team in the first few months of 2025. While several teams would undoubtedly be interested in his services, Ferrari is considered the most attractive option if Newey decides to continue his career in Formula 1 and seek new challenges after Red Bull. Although no deal has been confirmed, it was reported that Newey had a meeting with Ferrari team boss Fred Vasseur in London before the Miami Grand Prix. Vasseur, who has not commented on the matter, is believed to be actively working towards making the move happen.
If Newey were to join Ferrari as soon as he becomes available, the team would already be well underway with the development of their 2026 car. However, there would still be ample opportunity for Newey to utilize his expertise and influence the final design. One of Newey’s greatest strengths is his ability to think outside the box, as demonstrated by his success in adapting to new formula changes. His understanding of the dynamic nature of performance factors and his willingness to challenge conventional thinking has often set his team apart from others and established a blueprint that is widely emulated. Examples of this include the 1998 McLaren, 2009 Red Bull, and 2022 Red Bull. The upcoming 2026 car and engine regulations present another opportunity for Newey to make a significant impact.
Newey’s potential addition to Ferrari would be a major boost for a project that has been gaining significant momentum over the past year. Since taking over as Ferrari team boss in 2023, Vasseur has received extensive support from Ferrari chairman John Elkann. This support has already resulted in the high-profile signing of Lewis Hamilton from Mercedes as a driver and the recruitment of Mercedes’ performance director, Loic Serra. When asked about the possibility of Newey joining Ferrari, Hamilton expressed his enthusiasm, stating that he would love to see it happen. He praised Newey’s track record and described him as an exceptional talent. Hamilton believes that Newey’s addition would be a privilege and further strengthen Ferrari’s already impressive team.