Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner has hailed Adrian Newey as a “true legend” following the news that the Formula 1 design guru will depart the squad in 2025.
Rumours surfaced last week that Newey was considering bringing the curtain down on a near two-decade spell with Red Bull which has comprised 13 championships.
Red Bull has since announced that the sport’s most celebrated designer will vacate his position next term, with his presence at F1 races to be reduced from this point.
It had been reported that Newey had become unsettled with the current power struggle inside Red Bull since an internal probe into Horner’s behaviour was conducted.
![Alpine Managing Director Steve Nielsen [pictured with Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore] is stern in his belief Mercedes has acted correctly](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Alpine-Steve-Nielsen-Flavio-Briatore-120x86.webp)
But both men used the word “friend” in statements on the press release and Horner has credited Newey’s role in turning Red Bull from an upstart to multi-title winners.
“All of our greatest moments from the past 20 years have come with Adrian’s hand on the technical tiller,” Horner said.
“His vision and brilliance have helped us to 13 titles in 20 seasons. His exceptional ability to conceptualise beyond F1 and bring wider inspiration to bear on the design of grand prix cars, his remarkable talent for embracing change and finding the most rewarding areas of the rules to focus on, and his relentless will to win have helped Red Bull Racing to become a greater force than I think even the late Dietrich Mateschitz might have imagined.
“More than that, the past 19 years with Adrian have been enormous fun.
“For me, when Adrian joined Red Bull, he was already a superstar designer. Two decades and 13 championships later he leaves as a true legend.
“He is also my friend and someone I will be eternally grateful to for everything he brought to our partnership.
“The legacy he leaves behind will echo through the halls of Milton Keynes and RB17 Track Car will be a fitting testament and legacy to his time with us.”
Although Newey’s future endeavours have not been made public, it is touted that Ferrari is leading the battle to entice the Briton, 65, to end his career with the marque.
![Alpine Managing Director Steve Nielsen [pictured with Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore] is stern in his belief Mercedes has acted correctly](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Alpine-Steve-Nielsen-Flavio-Briatore-350x250.webp)
![Alpine Managing Director Steve Nielsen [pictured with Executive Advisor Flavio Briatore] is stern in his belief Mercedes has acted correctly](https://www.motorsportweek.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Alpine-Steve-Nielsen-Flavio-Briatore-360x180.webp)
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