Adrian Newey has admitted that he is “flattered” Lewis Hamilton has gone public with his desire to see the Formula 1 design guru replicate his move to Ferrari in 2025.
Red Bull announced earlier this week that Newey will leave the team next term, bringing an end to a spell that has spanned near to two decades and delivered 13 titles.
The Briton has revealed he had been completing his role at Red Bull “a little while now”, which accelerated due to unspecified events that have occurred in recent times.
“I’m in the very lucky position where I don’t need to work to live,” Newey told Sky F1.
“I work because I enjoy it and I just feel now is a good time to to step back and take a bit of a break and take stock of life and go travelling a bit.
“Maybe at some point, I don’t know, when, I’ll be standing in the shower and say, ‘right this is going to be the next adventure’. But right now there is no plan.”
Newey has turned down multiple approaches from Ferrari in the past, but reports have suggested that the marque is closer than ever to securing its long-time target.
Hamilton, who will complete a switch to Ferrari next season as he bids to win a record eighth F1 Drivers’ title, proclaimed it would be a “privilege” to work with Newey.
“It’s very kind of Lewis to say that,” Newey expressed. “I’m very flattered. But at the moment it’s just take a little bit of a break and see what happens next.”
Newey’s agreed departure date from Red Bull will ensure he has the chance to begin work with a new team on the revised technical rules being introduced for 2025.
The storied F1 designer has expressed that the challenge provided with understanding and crafting ideas under brand-new regulations is an aspect that he savours.
“I do enjoy regulation changes, for sure,” he added. “This current crop of regulations was the biggest regulation change we’ve had since 1983 when flat-bottom cars came in.
“I really enjoyed the challenge of all the research and design of that car. The two subsequent cars are evolutions of that car and next year’s car will be the third evolution of that car.
“So it’s been a great series, one that surprised me just how much there is in these cars, actually. When I first looked at the regulations I wasn’t so sure, but it’s been fun.”
