Adrian Newey CTO of Red Bull Racing could be on his way out of the team ahead of the 2026 season possibly going to rivals Ferrari or Aston Martin, this is apparently becuase Newey is unhappy with the unrest that the situation surrounding Team Principal Christian Horner has created since the allegatons against the TP arose in February of this year.
Newey, regarded as the greatest Formula 1 designer in history, has told Red Bull he wants to move on, The British design chief has been strongly linked with Ferrari and is known to have been made an offer by Aston Martin, but he is likely to be of interest to all leading teams now his availability is known.
Newey’s contract with Red Bull lasts until the end of 2025 but he is said to believe he can negotiate an exit that allows him to work with another team from next season.
His exit from the team was first reported by German News outlet Auto Motor Und Sport. They confirmed that his desire to leave stems from his unhappiness over the situation involving Horner, which has led to a multi-faceted power struggle at Red Bull.
As Red Bull’s chief technical officer, Newey is no longer working full time on F1 – he is also involved with the company’s other projects, such as the forthcoming RB17 supercar.
Senior sources at Red Bull say the team have received no formal resignation from Newey, who is contracted until at least the end of 2025 in his role as chief technical officer for the Milton Keynes-based outfit, and that they believe there is still room for dialogue with the 65-year-old.
IS VERSTAPPEN’S FUTURE IN DOUBT ONCE MORE?
Since the allegations against Horner became public, the majority of the media’s focus has been on whether uncertainty at the top of the team could result in Verstappen making a shock departure from a car that has brought him a historical level of dominance.
The saga reached its most heightened point during March’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix when, amid reports Marko was on the verge of leaving, Verstappen suggested he could follow the Austrian out of the team.
The comment from Wolff, who has admitted he would “love” for Verstappen to fill the vacancy left at Mercedes by Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari, appeared odd given the apparent easing of tension at Red Bull, along with Mercedes’ struggles on track, but now suddenly make a lot more sense.
With Red Bull manufacturing their own engine for the first time for the 2026 season, the absence of Newey would add another huge question mark as to whether they can create a title-challenging car.
Verstappen is contracted until 2028 but has previously admitted that whether Red Bull are able to keep delivering him a winning car will play a role in whether he sees out the deal, which is understood to contain exit clauses.
Where do you think Adrian will go Next? could we see him at Ferrari or Aston Martin? somewhere else possibly, let me know in the comments.
Reporting by BBC Sport with additional input from Sky Sports F1; View both articles here: BBC
https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/cmm3v9ny78eo
Published in F1
