Adrian Newey, the Chief Technical Officer of Red Bull Racing, may consider joining Ferrari or Mercedes if he decides to leave Red Bull, as reported by the Italian media. Speculations suggest that Newey is planning to end his long association with Red Bull due to internal power struggles within the team. The 65-year-old Briton is widely considered the most successful designer in Formula 1 history, having played a crucial role in Red Bull’s 13 championship wins since 2006. If Newey leaves Red Bull, his services may be in high demand, with rumors suggesting that Aston Martin has already made an attempt to recruit him. Aston Martin, backed by billionaire owner Lawrence Stroll, has made significant investments in their F1 project and even offered Newey a $100 million contract. However, it is believed that Newey is not interested in a full-time technical role and would prefer a consultant position that allows him more flexibility. Ferrari, with its resources and reputation, could potentially offer this opportunity. However, it is worth noting that Newey’s current contract with Red Bull includes clauses that could complicate any potential move. These clauses could extend his paid leave period by another 12 months.
The Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Ferrari is eager to take advantage of Newey’s experience in the new technical regulations and is open to negotiations with Red Bull. The team, based in Maranello, is ready to welcome Lewis Hamilton in 2025 to join current driver Charles Leclerc and is willing to match Aston’s contract. However, Ferrari is not the only team interested in Newey, as Motorsport Italy suggests that he will also have discussions with Mercedes after the upcoming race in Miami. There are separate reports indicating that Max Verstappen’s team is scheduled to meet with Mercedes next month, aiming to take advantage of the unstable situation at Red Bull. F1 Insider claims that Verstappen may consider moving to Mercedes, but would require guarantees about the team’s competitiveness and the arrival of engineers from Red Bull. The potential hiring of Newey would be a significant move, as he has been the brain behind the cars that led Verstappen to three consecutive championships. Meanwhile, Mercedes is set to lose Hamilton to Ferrari at the end of this season and has faced challenges at the start of the current campaign due to correlation issues with their W15 car. However, Mercedes has responded by acquiring Simone Resta and Enrico Sampo from Ferrari, who previously led the simulation department of the Italian team. While Ferrari and Mercedes are striving to persuade the legendary car designer to join their respective teams, retirement is still a possibility.
