On Wednesday, Red Bull confirmed that Adrian Newey would be leaving the team in the first quarter of 2025. But how much will his exit impact the world champions?
On paper, Newey is the chief technical officer who has delivered seven drivers’ titles and six constructors’ championships for the team since 2010. Last year’s RB19 was the most dominant car in F1 history, winning 21 out of 22 races.
Equally, though, Newey is just one part of a broader technical team. The key question is whether that team can still be as successful without its most legendary member.
There’s unlikely to be any immediate on-track impact following Wednesday’s announcement. Max Verstappen and Red Bull will remain the overwhelming favourites for the Miami Grand Prix, and in all likelihood, every other race this season.
What’s more, you’d imagine that the development plan for the RB20 is already set in stone. And Red Bull’s advantage over the rest of the field is such that they should still win both championships in 2025 too.
But 2026 is where things could get interesting as we see sweeping changes to the regulations. That will be the first car designed without the input of Newey.
Indeed,after successful negotiations with Red Bull, he won’t have to serve any gardening leave after his exit early next year. He could, then, play a key role in determining a rival’s concept.
David Croft shares doubts over Red Bull’s Adrian Newey claims
Speaking on Sky Sports News, commentator David Croft questioned the messaging from Red Bull around Newey. Christian Horner has previously talked up the role of technical director Pierre Wache, which has left Newey feeling like his influence is underestimated.
And Croft seems to agree with the 65-year-old engineer. Based on Newey’s track record in the sport, he’s bound to be a ‘huge’ loss for the Milton Keynes outfit.
“It is a huge, huge story,” he said. “As much as Red Bull try and downplay [it and say] that ‘Adrian Newey’s just one person and doesn’t make the final difference’, in Adrian Newey’s case I think it does.
“I think his record and the championships that he’s won over the years and the cars that he’s designed over the years, that have won well over 200 Grands Prix, shows just what a major force he is in Formula 1, and has been for many, many years now.”
Pierre Wache set to succeed Adrian Newey at Red Bull
Whether or not Wache takes on the same title as Newey, he’s set to assume even greater responsibility in the absence of the Englishman. That could be enough to fend off the recent interest from Mercedes and indeed Newey’s leading suitors Ferrari.
Horner and Red Bull are bound to express their confidence in Wache and co. in Miami this weekend. But one rival team principal has warned him he could look like a ‘fool’ if Newey achieves success elsewhere.
Former driver Mark Webber says Newey made an ‘insane’ impact on those around him at the team, and that may also include Wache. He needs to prove he hasn’t been reliant on the guidance of the F1 legend.
All things considered, this is probably the most significant departure from Red Bull since Sebastian Vettel joined Ferrari in 2015. And it looks as if we could see the same transfer take place here.
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