Red Bull Team Principal Christian Horner has revealed that the squad has been preparing to deal with Formula 1 design genius Adrian Newey’s departure since 2014.
Following intense reports, Red Bull announced that Newey had communicated his intention to end his near two-decade association with the Austrian outfit last week.
Newey’s planned egress in 2025 will bring the curtain down on a stellar spell that has seen him design the cars to have won seven Drivers and six Constructors’ titles.
But while his departure has been touted as a substantial loss, Horner has admitted the reigning champions have been braced for this moment approaching 10 years.
Horner disclosed last term that a late intervention prevented Newey from moving to Ferrari in 2014 when he became disillusioned with Red Bull’s uncompetitive state.
“Look, I think that we’re well positioned for the future and I think that in the technical team that we have,” Horner said post-race in Miami.
“I think that we always knew this day was coming and it’s something that from 2014 when Adrian came very close to leaving that structure was assembled.”
Newey negotiated an earlier release clause from his contract that would permit him to begin work at another team in time for the development work on the 2026 cars.
But while he has been linked with Aston Martin, Ferrari and even a return to Williams, Horner suspects Newey will soon take a break from a motor racing environment.
“Adrian, I think he’s going to take some time away from Formula 1 and at 65, you can’t blame him,” he added.
“I think he’s earned that right he’s earned the right to take some time out so what he chooses to do after that it will be his choice.”
When asked how long it could take a potential suitor to build around Newey, Horner explained the lengths Red Bull had gone to incorporate his older-school methods.
The long-serving Red Bull boss also reiterated the confidence he has in the existing structure, led by Technical Director Pierre Wache, to maintain the team’s success.
“I think Formula 1 is a very complicated business now particularly with the cost cap elements that you have to take into consideration,” he said.
“You have to think very carefully where you commit your funding, where you commit your budgets, what resource, where you’re going to get best bang for buck, and I think that obviously, we had a structure that evolved around Adrian over the years that was able to accommodate the way that he works.
“He’s the only designer in Formula 1 that works still on a drawing board, but of course, as the regulations have become tighter and tighter and Adrian’s role has evolved and developed within the team over the last years, others have had to step up and we’ve had to change and evolve how we work which is the same in any organisation.
“It has to continue to evolve and adapt and that’s what we’ve done.”
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