Two of the most successful men in their field, but it was never thought that one would be used to justify the acquisition of the other. But that is exactly what Guenther Steiner noted. We’re talking about Tom Brady and Adrian Newey. While comparing or using examples of Lewis Hamilton and Tom Brady makes a lot of sense, where did Adrian Newey come into the picture? Well, if it’s Guenther Steiner, then it sure is going to be something interesting. 

Adrian Newey’s contribution to Red Bull’s success is invaluable. However, on his own, Newey wouldn’t have accomplished what he did with Red Bull. Even Christian Horner came out the year to give credit for the RB20 to the whole team, including Pierre Wache and not just Newey. Amid all the efforts of the teams trying their best to get Newey after he announced his Red Bull exit, Guenther Steiner has come out to suggest that Newey on his own is not the decisive factor for success.

On the latest episode of the Red Flags podcast, Guenther Steiner was asked to pick his dream team with an unlimited budget. When it came to picking the Chief Technical Officer, the former Haas Boss picked Adrian Newey and the team. Guenther Steiner was then questioned if Pierre Wache was the guy to get as Adrian Newey was just a part-timer now, to which he explained that it’s a team effort and one man doesn’t guarantee success.

“It’s a team, you need both of them. Adrian on his own couldn’t have done what he did there. Pierre couldn’t do without Adrian. It’s a team,” Guenther Steiner noted. Then, he gave Tom Brady’s example, emphasizing how the quarterback couldn’t have won as many games if he didn’t have a great team around him. “Tom Brady on his own, without the other people around, would have won the matches he won?” Steiner added. It is indeed the reality, and even Horner suggested that Red Bull is not a one-man show, but is built on contributions from everyone.

Christian Horner advises that Red Bull isn’t dependent on Adrian Newey

A driver can make a tenth or two worth of difference but if the car isn’t fast enough, or if there is a strategic mistake, they wouldn’t be able to win. The development of an F1 car is a similar process; it’s not just about the aerodynamics, but about the harmony of all the various components like the chassis, the power unit, etc. Horner explained the scenario on the same line, advising how Adrian Newey has taken a broader role and looks over the thing while Pierre Wache is the one directly affecting the car’s performance.

“We’ve built a machine that isn’t dependent on one individual but which enables Adrian to feed in and out, to mentor, to challenge ideas, and so on. I suppose it’s evolved over the last four or five years as Adrian has become involved in other projects. He can’t be everywhere,” Christian Horner remarked. Explaining how Pierre Wache stepped up, he added, “Pierre did a great job in doing that. On a day-to-day basis, that is Pierre’s responsibility now, his accountability. The relationship between the two of them is strong. Honestly, I think it’s the strongest engineering team we’ve ever had.”

What did you make of Guenther Steiner’s Tom Brady example? Share your thoughts in the comments below.