Adrian Newey will be keeping a very close eye on what Red Bull Racing’s competitors do at every race this season with his future in mind.
While he would love to add Drivers’ Championship number 14 and his 13 Constructors’ Championship to his collection at the end of the year, it seems unlikely that they’ll be his last attempts at adding to his impressive CV.
Red Bull are losing one of the most successful people in the paddock at the beginning of 2025 and the rest of the Formula 1 world want to secure his services.
That makes him a very expensive person to hire knowing how many people would love to snap him up, especially as Eddie Jordan is acting as his manager.
Speaking on the Inside The Piranha Club Podcast, journalists Rebecca Clancy and Ben Hunt were talking about Adrian Newey’s potential next steps.
There are a few teams who have put themselves front and centre when it comes to trying to hire him.
Ferrari would love for Newey to join but their chances have ‘rather diminished’, while Aston Martin have responded to his mammoth wage demands.
Unfortunately, despite desperately wanting to bring him back to the team, Williams appear unable to match Newey’s expectations.
Williams have reportedly gone so far as to offer Newey a share of the company to convince him to head back to Grove.
That might not be enough considering the competition they face for his signature.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Williams Racing from team principal to Mercedes relationship
Adrian Newey wage demands ‘immediately’ rule out move to Williams
Talking about the legendary designer’s future, Clancy said: “They’re obviously bartering right and does he want to go to Aston Martin?
“And just to clear up any confusion, his salary we’re talking about isn’t included in the cost cap, it goes down to who has the deepest pockets.
“Which I think immediately rules out Williams, who are apparently struggling at the moment.
“So, I think it is a battle between Ferrari [and Aston Martin]. I mean John Elkann and Frederic Vasseur managed to convince Lewis Hamilton to go over, OK they’re paying him pretty much like for like in terms of salary.
“But to get [Adrian] Newey as well? I mean John Elkann is the heir to the Ferrari dynasty, he’s got pretty deep pockets, if they want him, they’re going to have him.”
Hunt also went on to clarify that any announcement on Newey’s future can’t be made until September.
What’s the best option for Adrian Newey after leaving Red Bull?
As mentioned above, Ferrari and Aston Martin appear to be the two teams that have so far pushed the hardest to try and sign Newey once he leaves Red Bull.
Either choice would also allow Newey to work with two of the best drivers of the modern era that he’s never partnered with: Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.
Newey previously admitted that he regretted never working alongside Alonso and a move to Aston Martin – where he could stay in the UK rather than move to Italy – might be more appealing.
However, Wiliams are also in the mix for his signature and given they’ll have Mercedes power units in 2026, they have the potential to be a front-running car.
Unfortunately, the team’s facilities haven’t been upgraded much since he departed in the 1990s, something James Vowles has grown increasingly frustrated with.
Newey has the potential to turn any F1 team into a success with the right personnel and infrastructure around him.
He’s also never shied away from a challenge such as taking on a brand new team like he did when Red Bull first arrived on the grid and that might give Williams a glimmer of hope that he’ll lower his demands to make a return to the Grove-based outfit.
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