Stefano Domenicali Hints at Fred Vasseur’s Plans Hours After Ferrari Boss Promises No Leaks

The 2024 Formula 1 pre-season saw one of the biggest driver moves in the history of the sport when Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari announced their future partnership.

And now there’s another major move on the Horizon for the Maranello squad in the form of Adrian Newey. The British car designer, who has been instrumental in the success story of Red Bull is set to part ways with the Milton Keynes squad in early 2025 and is likely to join forces with Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton. Even the Formula 1 CEO, Stefano Domenicali has now hinted at the Newey’s move to Ferrari despite the team principal, Frederic Vasseur denying the recent leaks that linked Adrian Newey’s arrival at Maranello.

In a recent conversation with Motorsport Italy, Vasseur was asked about the politics and secrets within the team regarding Adrian Newey. In response, the Frenchman said, “In the last six months there have been rumors in the media that have been confirmed as such, such as the story of Newey being spotted in Bologna. Well, Adrian had gone to film at Mugello, it’s certainly not a leak!”

However, as the Formula 1 calendar moves on to Imola for the Eimilia-Romagna Grand Prix in Italy, the home of Ferrari, Domenicali talked about his expectations for the team and Hamilton before the event. He’s hoping the fans will give Hamilton a warm welcome.

“After the announcement of his [Lewis Hamilton’s] agreement with the Scuderia di Maranello, it is his first time on Ferrari territory, but the echo is stronger abroad than in Italy,” Domenicali was quoted by Formula Passion. He also hinted at the speculations that have been linking Adrian Newey with Ferrari. “…There are rumors about possible collaborations that I can’t comment on because I don’t know. I expect a domino effect towards Silverstone and a defined 2025 grid towards Monza.”

While there are a lot of speculations about Newey’s F1 project, we still need to consider what he actually wants to do in the future.

Adrian Newey feels “a bit tired at the moment” as he contemplates his future

While negotiating his exit from Red Bull, Newey has managed to get rid of the gardening period that allows him to start working with a new team as soon as possible, possibly overseeing the development of their car for the 2026 season. However, there’s also talk that Newey might decide to step away from F1 altogether and focus on other interests, particularly sailing.

He recently attended a yacht event and was asked about his future plans. He mentioned that while he never imagined changing teams at his age, he’s been inspired by his father’s experience, who struggled to find purpose after retiring. This, along with advice from motorsport figures like Bernie Ecclestone and Roger Penske, who emphasized the importance of keeping mentally and physically active, has made Newey consider continuing his career in F1.

Despite enjoying what he does and feeling a bit tired at the moment, Newey acknowledges that he might miss working in F1 if he stopped. “I’ll have a bit of a holiday. As Forrest Gump said ‘I feel a bit tired at the moment’,” said the British car designer, while adding, “At some point, I’ll probably go again… I know I’d miss it if I wasn’t doing it.”

He’s stuck between whether to continue into the world of racing or to enjoy his yacht and sail into retirement. “Do I go again or do I enjoy my [yacht] and sail off into the sunset?” Newey wondered.

Do you think Adrian Newey will join forces with Ferrari, or will he take a page from his father’s book and start living a semi-retired life? Let us know in the comments down below.