There’s still a lot of focus on what’s happening in the driver’s market in Formula 1, but rumblings about Adrian Newey’s future are unlikely to go away for very long.
Adrian Newey announced that he’ll be leaving Red Bull during the first quarter of 2025 and rival teams have been lining up to try and hire the 65-year-old who has been instrumental in winning dozens of Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships.
Former F1 mechanic and BBC Sport pundit Marc Priestley has been speaking on his YouTube channel about what he heard in the paddock at the Monaco Grand Prix about Newey’s future.
One of the teams that appear to be keenest to sign Adrian Newey is Ferrari.
Having previously helped McLaren, Williams and Red Bull win titles, it feels like Newey’s F1 career wouldn’t be complete without a stint at Italy’s most iconic racing team.
Priestley has now suggested that Lewis Hamilton’s management have played a key role in convincing Newey that he should sign for Ferrari.
Hamilton has had a difficult final campaign with Mercedes who have failed to match the steps forward taken by Ferrari and McLaren this year.
He’ll be very excited to make the move to Maranello after witnessing Charles Leclerc’s victory in Monaco and if Newey joins the team to help the development of their 2026 car when new regulations are introduced to F1, then they may be an unstoppable force.
Lewis Hamilton’s management is playing a role in convincing Adrian Newey to join Ferrari
Team principal Frederic Vasseur is working hard to build the strongest team possible at Ferrari after taking over from Mattia Binotto at the end of the 2022 season.
The recruitment of Lewis Hamilton for the 2025 campaign took the world of Formula 1 by surprise but highlighted Vasseur’s intentions.
Ferrari have since brought in Jerome d’Ambrosio and Loic Serra to add to their backroom staff.
However, the jewel in the crown would be Adrian Newey and the idea of him finally working alongside seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari would be fascinating.
Hamilton has had to endure a couple of tough seasons at Mercedes who have struggled to understand the latest set of rules in Formula 1.
In stark contrast, Red Bull built the most dominant car in F1’s history in 2023 and Newey was instrumental in that work.
Adrian Newey still deciding on his next step after Red Bull’s exit
Talking about what he heard in the paddock at Monaco, Priestley said: “Actually, there were quite a few rumours around Adrian Newey having signed the deal at Ferrari.
“Absolutely nothing concrete here, there’s nothing official in this regard but more than one person said to me that they had heard with some authority that that deal was potentially now done.
“Maybe even it was done over the course of the Monaco weekend when Adrian was in residence at Red Bull this weekend.
“So, perhaps that’s one that we’ll get an announcement on soon.
“Also, that Lewis Hamilton and his team of management may have been instrumental in getting that deal across the line.
“[They are] really keen to bring Adrian to the team when Lewis joins Ferrari next year.”
Which other teams want to sign Adrian Newey
If Newey decides against joining Hamilton at Ferrari next season, there are plenty of other teams chasing his signature.
Flavio Briatore is reportedly being brought in by Alpine to aid in a recruitment drive that would see Newey head to France.
Williams’s team principal James Vowles is working tirelessly to hire Newey as they make efforts to move up the team standings.
Mercedes have also made an approach for Newey and all of this interest highlights just how important Newey is expected to be for the upcoming regulation changes.
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