Newey, the Chief Technical Officer of Oracle Red Bull Racing for the past 18 years and a key figure in the design of all six of the team’s Constructors’ Titles, has made the surprising decision to leave following a potentially strained relationship with Team Principal Christian Horner. The renowned designer, who will be present at the upcoming Miami Grand Prix with Red Bull, will depart from the Milton Keynes-based team after the first quarter of 2025.
There has been much speculation about Newey’s next destination, with many suggesting that he could join Lewis Hamilton at Scuderia Ferrari and help propel them to a Championship charge in 2025 and beyond. Aston Martin, Mercedes, and even Williams have also expressed interest in acquiring the services of the 65-year-old, but it is believed that Newey is not particularly interested in moving to at least the first two mentioned teams.
Ferrari has been unable to secure a Championship victory since 2008, but they have come close on several occasions since then. Under the leadership of Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur since 2022, the team based in Maranello, Italy has been the only team, aside from Red Bull, to win a Grand Prix in the last 28 race weekends.
With the potential addition of Newey as their chief designer in 2025, Ferrari could make the crucial leap to consistently winning races and Championships. This viewpoint is shared by one of the team’s drivers, Charles Leclerc.
When asked if Vasseur’s project would convince Newey to join, Leclerc stated: “I think we’re in a very promising moment for the team. Fred has always shared with me his long-term vision for the team, and I have shared with him my thoughts on what I believe is the right direction. It’s going really well, and I’m extremely pleased with the progress we’re making,” said the Ferrari driver during a media interview in Miami.
Regarding the potential impact of Newey on Ferrari’s competitiveness, Leclerc added: “I believe we are in a position to attract the best talents in the world. We are already a very strong team, but it’s crucial to bring in individuals who can make us even stronger. Adrian is one of those individuals who can make a significant difference. Having him join a team like ours would be incredible.”
The Miami Grand Prix is set to begin on Sunday, May 5th at 21:00 BST (16:00 local time).
(Reported by Agnes Carlier)