Christian Horner is pleased to keep motivated Adrian Newey at Red Bull for more F1 seasons, as Franz Tost rules out replacing Helmut Marko.
Red Bull didn’t do a press release with regards to announcing the retention of Newey for more F1 seasons, as Horner noted that they don’t discuss about such contracts publicly. Usually, teams do confirm about their technical directors but not in this case.
At a time when AlphaTauri chief Tost is leaving the team principal role at the age of 67-years, Newey will continue on at the age of 64-years. The same goes for Marko too, who is 80-years now and is to keep his advisory role at Red Bull.
“We don’t tend to talk about employee’s contracts publicly but Adrian has been with us a long time, and that will continue for several seasons to come,” said Horner. “He’s such an important part of our team, it’s only natural for us to continue working together.
“He and I have worked together for 17 years now – and of course he’s involved not just with Formula 1 but with our advanced technologies, with the RB17 [hypercar] project coming along as well. It’s something that we’re delighted to have him with us, as I say, for many seasons to come.
“The team’s not ever just about one person, of course, but he’s a key player in our organisation. It’s great to have him with us, he enjoys the environment that he works in, he enjoys working with young talented engineers – and we’ve got some incredible talent that we’re nurturing and developing and that stimulates him. He’s 64 years young and just as motivated as ever,” summed up Horner.
This retains Red Bull’s senior management despite a new CEO. But AlphaTauri will see one as noted about with the departure of Tost. He is being replaced by Laurent Mekies as team boss and Peter Bayer at his side to look after the commercial side.
There were some murmurs about Tost taking up Marko’s role, but the Austrian put those down. “No, Helmut wants to stay, he wants to stay another 80 years! There is absolutely no intention from my side to take it over,” he said to media.
“Don’t know yet, was asked already [about training young drivers], but don’t know yet, it’s not decided. First of all, I want to take a step back, and then to see whether I will be involved in such a project or not, it’s not decided yet.”
Tost elaborated on his role as consultant at AlphaTauri, where he will spend his time to guide Mekies and Bayer to fit at Faenza. Also, he is pleased to see new ideas to crop up. “I can tell you now I’m not the guy to look behind the shoulders of what Peter and Laurent will do,” he said.
“They are really very good, and they know what to do. I will be there at the beginning when they are coming, one month or so, but then 100 per cent I will step back. I am not the person to advise someone or tell someone what to do. They know it. It’s also important, this is also a personal desire and wish from my side.
“The team has to step up, come to another level. I have been there for 18 years, and it’s good. Formula 1 is developing very fast, they have maybe different points of view, and they should do it. I am convinced they can do it much better than myself, therefore it’s better if I shut my mouth,” summed up Tost.
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