Adrian Newey will begin talks with Red Bull management over his future at the club after reports emerged that he had expressed a desire to leave.
The Guardian understands that Red Bull’s chief technology officer has yet to formally tender his resignation or announce his departure to staff, with insiders saying Thursday’s headlines came as a surprise to Newey and the team.
The 65-year-old made no comment and Red Bull said only that he was contracted until the end of 2025 and they were not aware of any other teams he would join.
Newey, the most successful Formula One car designer of the modern era, reportedly joined the team in 2006 with the intention of ending his time with the team after nearly 20 years. They have been rattled by the furor that has engulfed Christian Horner since he was accused of inappropriate behavior by a female employee.
An independent investigation dismissed the complaint against Horner, who has always denied any wrongdoing, but the complainant has appealed. The case is believed to be part of a battle for control of Red Bull, in which leaks involving Newey could also be part of a further attempt to destabilize Horner.
If Newey leaves, it would be a heavy blow for Red Bull, whose cars he helped win seven drivers’ titles and six constructors’ titles. This could lead to world champion Max Verstappen further considering his future with them, which is already in doubt.
Ferrari, Aston Martin and Mercedes would all be strong contenders for Newey if he left, but as Red Bull said he has a contract with them until 2025. The terms (as is customary) would have prevented him from starting with another team until 2027, and from influencing the car’s design from scratch until the 2028 model year, two years after the new rules come into effect.
Meanwhile, in the run-up to next week’s Miami Grand Prix, British driver Oliver Bellman’s chances of entering F1 next season have increased after Sauber announced the signing of Nico Hulkenberg from Haas, freeing up a seat. Bellman, a Ferrari junior driver and Haas reserve driver, had a technical relationship with the team and wanted to place him with the team to gain experience.
This year, Behrmann is replacing Carlos Sainz at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. At 18, he made his F1 debut as the youngest British driver, finishing seventh after his first practice session in Jeddah.
