MONTE-CARLO, MONACO – MAY 24: Adrian Newey, the Chief Technical Officer of Oracle Red Bull Racing, arrives at the Paddock in a tender before the practice sessions ahead of the Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix at the Monaco Circuit on May 24, 2024 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Almost two months have passed since Newey surprised the Formula 1 community by announcing his departure from Red Bull. This immediately sparked speculation that he would join Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, the seven-time F1 world champion. Rumors circulated that the 65-year-old Newey had met with Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur in London, giving the impression that a warm welcome awaited him. However, the decision still lies in Newey’s hands as he has many options to consider.
Regarding the connection with Aston Martin, one can imagine billionaire boss Lawrence Stroll taking the opportunity to inquire about Newey’s availability. The question on Stroll’s mind is likely, “How much does he want?” Apparently, Newey’s design services come with a hefty price tag of $30 million per year, a figure that even Stroll hesitated to accept. However, Stroll’s interest in Newey is not new and has gained momentum recently.
According to a report in The Telegraph this week, Aston Martin has emerged as a rival to Ferrari in the pursuit of Adrian Newey. However, they have rejected his salary demand of £25 million ($30 million). The Silverstone-based team courted Newey, but they are unwilling to meet his salary expectations.
Amidst these developments, UK media reported that Newey visited the Aston Martin factory, where he was greeted by Lawrence Stroll. The team headquarters was reportedly almost empty as the designer toured their state-of-the-art facilities near Silverstone.
Newey is not the only target of Lawrence Stroll. The Italian website Formu1a.uno revealed that Aston Martin’s attempt to hire Enrico Cardile, the current Technical Director of Ferrari, is a testament to their success in leading Ferrari’s resurgence in recent years. This signals a Silly Season behind the scenes of Formula 1 for race engineers.
At this time last year, Cardile was not in high demand as Aston Martin was not a top team. However, circumstances change quickly in Formula 1. Aston Martin made an offer to the Italian engineer, but he chose to remain at Ferrari for now.
In addition to these negotiations, Lawrence Stroll is actively seeking Adrian Newey for the team. Aston Martin has been trying to convince Newey for several months, and their resources and partnership with Honda make them an attractive destination.
Ferrari is another potential destination for Newey. If he were to join Ferrari, it is likely that he would serve as a highly respected consultant. The current technical department in Maranello is performing well, so it would be unwise to dismantle it before 2026.
