Adrian Newey’s departure from Red Bull Racing has everyone talking, and we may now know why! The team’s success has been powered for years by Newey’s ingenuity, so why the abrupt change? Reporter Craig Slater of Sky Sports thinks he has discovered the true cause of Newey’s unexpected resignation. Are you curious about the reasoning behind one of the biggest moves in Formula 1?
In 2006, as Red Bull Racing was beginning their second Formula 1 season, Adrian Newey joined the team. His contribution to their transformation from a mediocre squad to a world champion and Grand Prix winner has been significant. Thanks to drivers Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, Red Bull has won seven driver titles and six team championships since 2010 with cars created by Newey. After a great start to the season, they are expected to win both titles in 2024.
Newey has achieved success with Red Bull and has contributed to championship victories for Williams and McLaren. With three distinct Formula 1 teams, he has contributed to 12 Constructors’ Championships and 13 Drivers’ Championships with seven different drivers.
Following Red Bull’s departure, Newey talks in public.
The power battle between the Thai and Austrian sides of the club’s ownership, which arose from the circumstances surrounding team principal Christian Horner, was said to have unnerved Newey.
Now, Newey has disclosed the reason behind his departure from Red Bull in an interview with Martin Brundle on Sky Sports prior to Sprint Qualifying in Miami.
When Brundle asked Newey how he felt about leaving the team after almost twenty years, he responded, “I mean, it’s been eighteen years.” It’s been an incredible journey, beginning with a very young team at Red Bull, rising from the ashes of Jaguar, working with Christian, and ultimately reaching a place where, to be really honest, I had no clue where we would end up when I first joined.
“I took a significant professional risk with it, and the journey has been incredible ever since.” Working with all the fantastic boys and ladies at the race team and factory has been an incredible honor; it’s been just amazing.
“Well, Formula 1’s all consuming,” was Newey’s response when asked why he made the decision at this time. I’ve been working on it for a while now.
“2021 was a very busy year because to the intense championship struggle with Mercedes and the intense focus on research and development for the 18 (RB18), which was the forerunner of this generation of automobiles.
“I’m not sure when it happens, but I just thought, like Forrest Gump did, ‘I’m feeling a little bit tired!'”
When asked how long he would be considering leaving, he said, “To be honest, a little while now.”
“I believe over the course of the winter, a few things happened this year, and I realized how fortunate I am to not need to work in order to survive.
“I work because I enjoy it, and I just felt that this is a good time to take a step back, take a little vacation, reflect on life, and do some traveling.”
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