F1 drivers have weighed in on the departure of Adrian Newey from Red Bull and the prospects of him joining any other team.
After the bombshell over the winter of Lewis Hamilton departing Mercedes for Ferrari in 2025, the 2024 F1 season has lived up to the ‘shock’ element with the confirmation of Newey departing Red Bull earlier than his contract said.
Having been part of the team for nearly two decades, Newey will leave in the middle of 2025 without gardening leave, which will allow him to join any rival F1 team – mostly as consultant – before the start of 2026. He may also choose to retire if he wishes to.
At the moment, Newey has been linked to Ferrari, Mercedes, Aston Martin and McLaren, with the biggest pull towards the Italian outfit and a bit towards the Silverstone-based team too. But only time will tell where he ends up in the future.
In the meantime, Verstappen and Sergio Perez have opened up on the situation where they seemingly downplayed his departure even though they would have preferred for him to stay. But they respect the choice of Newey to leave and can’t force anyone to stay.
They have played down the chances of impact as well if he joins anyone else because it will be too late to start the cycle, while stressed that Red Bull has a capable technical team. To-be Ferrari driver Hamilton and current star Charles Leclerc will be happy to have him.
Leclerc was surprised to know about his departure, while both had smiles while answering about potentially be working with Newey. Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso was not far behind in wanting the veteran, having wanted to work with him for long.
Alonso has had the chance to work in the past but it never happened. As for McLaren’s Lando Norris, he was content with the technical team he has now but certainly wouldn’t be against having Newey if they can get him to return to Woking.
Here’s what they all said –
Newey leaving, impact –
Verstappen: “When he started at Red Bull, he was incredibly important for the success that they have. Because I think over time, his role has changed a bit. And I think a lot of people don’t understand what he was actually doing. I don’t say he’s not doing anything. You know, his role has evolved. A lot of, good people came into the team that has strengthened that whole department. Of course, I would have preferred him to stay, for sure. Because you can always rely on his experience. Just as a person, he was a great guy to relate to. He was very bright, very smart. And he would also talk to the driver. And then he would interpret that into the car. And he would try to imagine himself driving. But I also really trust that the technical team that we have outside of Adrian is very, very strong.
“And they have basically shown that for the last few years how competitive the car is. So on the outside, it looks very dramatic. But I think if you actually know what is happening inside the team, it’s not as dramatic as it seems. All of those things a couple of years ago would’ve been a bit unexpected. But I think it’s always very important to remain calm and focus on your job, know who you’re working with, feel comfortable. At the end of the day we need to have the fastest car. That’s what I always demanded, that’s what we finally got, for a couple of years now, and we have a very strong technical team that are part of the team still for a long time. Basically, it goes on like it was going before.”
Perez: “Yeah, it’s obviously, I would say, not ideal. Someone like Adrian has been tremendous to our team, to our organisation. And he’s obviously a very good friend of mine as well in this time that we spent together. But at the end of the day, there are times in life… I think he spent like 20 years at Red Bull. I think he probably wants to do something else. And it’s fair. I think Red Bull, it’s in a great place. It has a very good, very strong organisation with Pierre, with Enrico, with Ben. I think the whole aero group is very strong and we’re just looking forward to the future. I think you’ve seen in the past with these big teams, big names, when they leave they will always exist, it doesn’t matter. It’s not down to one single individual, it’s a whole organisation and I think Christian has done a great job in sort of preparing for the next generation of what’s going to happen to Red Bull.
“Obviously he’s a key part of our organisation, and there were some talks of it, and obviously once it gets public, it’s much more in advance that there have been some talks of it. I think also Christian and the whole team has been preparing for one day… I mean, you’re going to lose any single individual, you know, so it’s a big organisation. And as long as he’s a key player to our organisation, there is a massive team around him as well. Adrian, with the experience he has, obviously he has contributed a lot to the Red Bull philosophy. So, yeah, I assume he will cause an immediate impact wherever he goes, whatever he does. He’s a very clever guy, very hard worker. And with Adrian, working with him, it’s much more than a designer. He can influence even strategies, set-up. He could have that influence on a race weekend, you know? So to have him around on race weekends was great. And yeah, he’s obviously a very strong individual guy that wherever he goes, he will cause immediate impact. But obviously, It’s a whole group of people that he would require to have around him as well.”
Convinced him to stay, early release –
Verstappen: “I don’t need to convince anyone. Because at the end of the day, if someone really wants to leave, they should leave. That’s also what I wrote to him. We talk. I mean, it’s not like suddenly you don’t talk anymore. But if you think that is the right decision for yourself and family, or you seek a different challenge or whatever, you have to do it. I mean, it’s not a shark tank. Everyone thinks about themselves at the end of the day. I know that. I’m not stupid. So, that’s fine.
“In a way, I’m also not surprised because we respect him a lot and we will always be very, very thankful for what he has done for the team over all these years. I’m not talking for Christian or whatever because at the end of the day, he has to discuss that with Christian about how the release terms and stuff are done. But I’m not surprised because I think in a way, it would be maybe also a little bit unfair to try and just put him on gardening leave for a very long time. Just thinking back on what he has done for the team. So I guess there’s this mutual respect between the two parties.”
Preferred him to stay, his choice –
Verstappen: “Not at the moment. I think people in the press, they are making up a lot of things at the moment. Because they don’t understand how the rules work. But of course, like I said before, I cannot deny that I would have preferred him to stay. Just for obvious reasons, his knowledge. And of course, what he will bring to the team if he wants to join. So, yeah. From that side, besides that, I trust that the people that we have are incredibly good at what they do. I am not disappointed because at the end of the day he has to do what he thinks is best for himself, so would I like to see him stay?
“Yes, for sure. But he says to me that he wants to seek a different challenge. He’s done so much for the team. It’s not like he joined, hasn’t achieved anything, and then leaves again. He’s done so much that we’re very appreciative of that. And then, at one point, it’s been for, you know, how many years? Like 19, 20 years. So, if you then at one point say, like, that’s enough, I want to do something else, that’s fine as well. But you cannot deny that we would have probably preferred him to stay.”
Others may leave –
Verstappen: “I mean, I cannot speak for everyone else. At the moment, I think everyone is happy with their roles in the team. And who knows, maybe with Adrian leaving, what it will do to the team. It might not always seem negative, you know. And this is not something bad towards Adrian, but you see that in a lot of different companies, sports, sometimes. You know, when somebody has been part of the team for a long time, and then suddenly they leave, it’s not always a negative thing. Maybe it promotes young talent. Of course, there will never be another Adrian, but that’s what’s fine with it. So, it’s very important to appreciate what he has done. Maybe it promotes young talent. Of course, there will never be another Adrian, but that’s what’s fine with it. So, it’s very important to appreciate what he has done. For us now, it’s very important to just work with the people that we have available, and they are very good at what they do.”
Perez: “I don’t think so. I think everyone is fully committed to the team. We’re having a tremendous season once again. The future looks bright in the team, so I think it’s normal that you have this sort of movement with some people. But I think the organisation remains really strong and I don’t see any more changes in that regard.”
Trouble for Red Bull if he signs with other teams –
Verstappen: “I think always, with a person like Adrian, with his experience and, of course, the knowledge that he has from our team, it should be an advantage. But, on the other hand, at 26, again, everything is very, very new, very different to how the cars are now. Before, he would potentially join another team, he’s in 25, then normally the cars are already designed for that year. So, that is, again, something that is something you don’t know how much influence he can have. But, for sure, with new regulations, if he would go somewhere else, with his knowledge, you know, he can bring a lot.
“It is always group of people that makes a team successful. As I said, before he would potentially join another team, we are already into new regulations, so then it is always really difficult to really know how much of an impact that will have. Like I said, just as a person and as a friend, basically he’s part of the second family that I had within the team, that’s also where Adrian is part. So, you would have always want him to stay, like I said…at the end of the day, that’s how life is. At the moment everyone is focused on what we have to do, that’s performance.”
Work with Newey if possible –
Hamilton: “Very much. I mean, Adrian’s known for… He’s got such a great history, track record. And, you know, he’s obviously just done an amazing job through his career in engaging with teams and the knowledge that he has. And I think he would be an amazing addition. I think they’ve already got a great team. They’re already making huge progress, strides forwards, their cars quicker this year. But yeah, it would be a privilege to work with him. I have no idea if they [Mercedes] are trying. I don’t know who is trying. I can’t tell you. And I can’t tell you. I can’t tell you what was in the discussions [with Ferrari].”
Stroll: “I guess time will tell. Lewis already said that one.”
Leclerc: “I will obviously be very happy. I think Adrian is one of those guys in the paddock that you hope to be working with one day in your career. We have an incredible team in Ferrari at the moment. And in the last seven to eight months, we are the team that have progressed the most. However, adding Adrian to a team like this will be amazing.”
Alonso: “Well, I always wanted to work with him once in my life. You know, I respect him a lot. I consider him, you know, the best probably of Formula One ever had, a legend of the sport. And, I feel in a way privileged to drive, you know, alongside him in the paddock, obviously as a competitor, but I feel lucky, to be part of his journey. And he was part of my journey as well, in a way, because I always competed against his cars. As I said, I think in Australia, you know, I will have the Aston Martin Valkyrie in my garage. And that will be probably a little gift that I give to myself, you know, having an Adrian Newey’s car.
“I think it’s a question for Lawrence. We are very happy with our technical department. Obviously, Adrian is one of the best or the best out there. But he needs to fit in a team. And it’s more Lawrence’s decision and Adrian’s ultimately decision that it needs to happen. But we are not very focused on that at the moment. We have a lot of things to fix in the car here in Miami. As I said, I think it’s more up to the team. Because Adrian will not move just now to any individual wish or anything like that. I think he’s into a bigger picture. We don’t know even if he wants to retire from Formula 1 and have different approaches to the future. So it’s more a question for him. I don’t know if he’s coming to this weekend. I hope for him not. But let’s see what he decides.”
Norris: “I mean, what would he bring, I have no idea. I wish I knew. Anyone who is going to have Adrian on their team is going to, probably going to move forward. And if he’s got a mind like not many others do. So it would be an honour I think for any team to have Adrian on their team, especially when he’s achieved as much as he has since he’s been in Formula 1, but also the last five, 10 years. Red Bull have been the most consistent team over the last 10, 15 years. They’ve been more consistent than Mercedes, more consistent than Ferrari, more consistent than anyone almost.
“It would always be a great addition. I’ll happily would say welcome. But on the flip side, I think we’re in a very good position now with who we’ve got. I’m very happy. I think if you ask Zak, you ask Andrea, we’d tell him we’re very happy with the team we’ve got now. Same time, we have what, a year where we really want to try and push and catch Red Bull. It would be great if we did it without Adrian, just to prove how good of a team we have for the time being. But yeah. If he wants to walk our way, you would definitely never say no.”
Situation at Red Bull –
Alonso: “I think obviously they are dominating the sport since 2021. And, yeah, when something outside the team, outside the race weekend is happening, I mean, there is a lot of news generated by that team because, you know, they are the ones that everyone wants to beat, and everyone wants to destabilize them in a way to make sure that you are able to beat them on track. So, yeah, I think if, you lose your technical director or your designer to another team, will be a little bit less news than if it happens on the winning team. But let’s see, you know, what happens in the future. I think the most important thing is, for everyone, I think is the 2026 regulations. Adrian was making the most of the current regulations, the one that started in 2022.
“But, for example, the 2014 regulations was Mercedes making the most of them. And you never know what is going to happen in 2026. We want to be the Mercedes of 2014 or we want to be the Red Bull of 2022. And I think a lot of teams are hoping for that. I was close a few times. I even spoke with him a few times, because some of those meetings in the past were not only with Christian and Helmut. Some of them were actually with Adrian. And, I always expressed my admiration to him, and he was always sharing his respect also to me. And yeah, let’s see what he does in the future.
Leclerc: “I was surprised, I did not expect it. So it was an interesting news, and one of those news that makes a lot of noise once it’s out, as I had it everywhere on my social media. But yeah, will it weaken Red Bull? I mean, obviously every team’s there are lots of people involved, but some figures of a team make more difference than others. And I think Adrian is definitely one of them, as he has shown it with his path, that’s every time he’s been in a team, they’ve been very, very successful. It’s difficult for me to comment, because I don’t know how exactly it works within the team. But obviously Adrian being on the market of the engineers is definitely someone to watch, and someone that everybody in the paddock will want in their team.”
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