Christian Horner Addresses Adrian Newey’s Exit After Rumored Talks With Ferrari Reach ‘Advanced Stage’

The Red Bull Racing team has been going through utter chaos in 2024 after tasting unparalleled success last season. The rumored internal power struggle within the Milton Keynes squad has been in the spotlight for quite some time now. And it has triggered speculations, left, right, and center, about who stays with the team and who won’t, including their star driver Max Verstappen, who has been linked with a potential move to Mercedes in 2025. Even the man responsible for the success of the RB19, Adrian Newey, the CTO of Red Bull Racing, has been rumored to complete a switch to Ferrari, where he will have the chance to partner up with Lewis Hamilton.

In recent times, talks between Newey and Ferrari seem to have picked up pace, with reports indicating that they are in the advanced stages. But Christian Horner seems not to be panicking. He is aware that someone with qualities like Adrian will always be highly desired. Also, Horner had already made it clear that nobody was above the team when he called Verstappen’s bluff to leave the team in Saudi Arabia.

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Ferrari has tried to poach talent from Red Bull. Back in 2014, they made a similar move on Adrian Newey, but he chose to remain with Red Bull. However, with Lewis Hamilton moving to Ferrari next season, and considering Newey’s past interest in working with the 7-time world champion, this could be the perfect moment for him to make the switch.

The topic of Adrian Newey’s future with the team was brought up to Horner during the Japanese Grand Prix weekend, and he was asked about his confidence in keeping him. Here’s what he had to say, “Adrian’s an important part and long-term part of our team. So, he’s enmeshed within the team, and there’s always going to be interest in Adrian for sure.”

With teams like Ferrari and Aston Martin making a play to get a hold of his services, Adrian Newey has a tough decision in front of him whether he wants to renew his contract with Red Bull or not.

Adrian Newey ‘enjoys’ Formula 1 but hasn’t planned too far ahead in the future

Before joining Red Bull in 2006, Newey had already made a name for himself in Formula 1. He enjoyed successful stints with Williams and McLaren, where he helped them win multiple world championships. Even Verstappen’s recent championships in ’22 and ’23 have all come because of Newey’s expertise in designing the ground-effect cars. However, the recent struggle within the Red Bull camp has supposedly left him unsure about his future with the team.

According to a report from Sports Illustrated, Newey made it clear that he loves designing F1 cars and would like to continue in the sport. However, he has not yet decided whether he wants to take on a new project. “I enjoy [it]. Ever since I was 10 or so, certainly by 12, I wanted to be a designer,” said Newey.

“I don’t think I knew the word ‘engineer’ – in motor racing, and ideally, Formula 1… I’ve hugely enjoyed it, and I continue to enjoy it. So I think as long as I continue to enjoy it and the team wants me, then I’ll continue to do it for the moment, and then we’ll have to see in the future. I don’t tend to plan too far forward,” he added.

READ MORE: Max Verstappen Will Join Adrian Newey in Aston Martin, Claims Will Buxton

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