Inevitably, all the talk at the Miami Grand Prix weekend has been about Adrian Newey leaving Red Bull. On paper, it looks like a seismic blow for the world champions.
After a week of intense noise, Red Bull officially confirmed Newey’s exit on Wednesday ahead of the race. The best team in F1 right now is losing its chief technical officer.
Newey has been one of the masterminds behind the team’s run of dominance since the 2022 regulation changes. They have won the last two championships at a canter, smashing records en route to glory last year.
This year’s RB20 is continuing the trend, with Max Verstappen winning four of the first races. Even after the Newey bombshell, he’s expected to be in a league of his own for the remainder of the year.
In all likelihood, Red Bull have already finalised the development plan for this year’s car. And their advantage is such that they will remain heavy favourites for 2025 too.
But the major concern is that Newey’s loss will be keenly felt upon the huge 2026 regulation changes. He could significantly strengthen a rival before then, with Ferrari currently the favourites for his signature.
One team boss has warned that Christian Horner will look like a ‘fool’ if that happens. Behind the scenes, other key figures are apparently considering their futures at Red Bull.
Why some people at Red Bull aren’t fans of Adrian Newey
Speaking live on the F1 Show on Thursday evening, Sky reporter Craig Slater offered some insight into the mood at the team following Wednesday’s announcement. And it’s hardly one of unanimous concern.
In fact, certain design staff have actually welcomed the news. That’s because they’ve found the ‘capricious’ Newey difficult to work with.
What’s more, they’ll have the opportunity to make a name for themselves outside of his shadow. The 65-year-old is perhaps the most famous designer in F1 history, having won a combined 25 titles in his career.
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“There are some in the design office who are quite pleased that he is moving on,” Slater said. “They found his working methods capricious, and now they have the chance to prove that it isn’t all about Adrian Newey.”
This points to the private tension that has contributed to Newey’s decision. He’s apparently unhappy that Horner has tried to downplay his influence.
Horner talked up the importance of technical director Pierre Wache, who’s now poised to take on an even greater role. But David Croft doesn’t buy suggestions that Newey’s impact is limited.
Is Max Verstappen leaving Red Bull?
Perhaps the biggest question as teams entered the paddock on Thursday was what the news meant for the future of Verstappen. His father Jos had certainly poured fuel on the fire when he warned that the team was at risk of ‘falling apart’.
The Dutchman is under contract until 2028, but that has done little to quash the speculation around his future. Mercedes are desperate to sign him as they look to replace Lewis Hamilton.
Crucially, though, Verstappen is said to be a ‘big believer’ in Wache, so he may remain confident about Red Bull’s long-term prospects. That’s despite ‘rumours’ that they’re lagging behind their rivals in the engine department for 2026.
The 27-year-old’s deal does contains an exit clause, but it will only become active if Helmut Marko leaves the team. As such, it’s worth keeping an eye on the fallout, but there may not be an immediate danger of Red Bull losing their superstar driver.
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