Eddie Jordan, former owner of a Formula 1 team and commentator, predicts that design specialist Adrian Newey will take some time off from the sport after leaving Red Bull. Red Bull confirmed Newey’s departure on Wednesday, stating that he will participate in certain races this season before officially leaving the Milton Keynes-based team in the first quarter of 2025. During this period, Newey will focus on completing the project of the RB17 hypercar, which will be unveiled at Goodwood in July.
Despite other teams, such as Aston Martin and Ferrari, expressing interest in hiring Newey, Jordan, who manages Newey, believes that the renowned engineer will not immediately join another team after leaving Red Bull. Jordan stated on the Formula For Success podcast: “If he decides to take some time off and relax, I think everyone would understand that. It’s more likely that he will do that instead of immediately seeking other job opportunities. Things have changed for him, he’s getting older. Red Bull is a fantastic team, he has had great drivers and personnel there. He should and probably will seek a lifestyle change for the future.”
If Newey takes time off from the sport, it would be a major setback for Red Bull’s competitors, who are eager to benefit from his innovative thinking that has contributed to the team’s success as constructors’ champions. Aston Martin reportedly made a lucrative offer to Newey in March, and the 65-year-old recently met with Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur in London. The Italian publication Formu1a.uno suggests that Ferrari is the favorite to secure Newey’s services, offering him a role as a “super consultant.”
After announcing his departure from Red Bull, Newey explained his reasons for leaving the team he has been a part of since 2006. “For almost two decades, it has been a great honor for me to play a key role in Red Bull Racing’s journey from newcomer to a team that has won multiple titles,” Newey stated. “However, I believe now is the right time to pass the baton to others and seek new challenges for myself.”
Newey played a crucial role in guiding Red Bull to seven driver titles and six constructor titles, and the team is likely to secure another double title by the end of this season. However, Newey now faces the decision of what his next step will be in Formula 1, or if he will continue in the sport.
