Daniil Kvyat recalls the ‘high-tension conversations’ between Red Bull and Adrian Newey during the team’s ‘very tough time’ in F1

One of the biggest talking points of last season was Adrian Newey’s decision to bring to an end nearly two decades of success working for Red Bull Racing.

Adrian Newey played a pivotal role in Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen becoming four-time world champions, and Red Bull securing six constructors’ championships.

It was fitting that the team were standing on the top step of the podium at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix on the occasion of their 400th start in Formula 1, albeit in the first car that Newey had almost no hand in creating.

Instead, Newey was subject to rumours linking him with almost every other team in the paddock.

Ferrari might wish they had paid Newey’s salary demands given the issues they’re having with their car this season.

The 66-year-old decided to continue plying his trade in F1 with Aston Martin, and all eyes are on how their first car of the 2026 regulations looks with Newey at the forefront of designing it.

Although he enjoyed immense success with Red Bull, it wasn’t always plain sailing.

Former Red Bull driver Daniil Kvyat has detailed some of the internal battles Newey fought before quitting the team.

READ MORE: All you need to know about Red Bull Racing from engine to Ford links

Daniil Kvyat details the ‘tension’ between Adrian Newey and Red Bull before quitting the team

Kvyat was a guest on the F1 Nation Podcast and when asked about working with Newey, he recalled: “I can say it was great to share the team with such a legendary person.

“Of course, we happened to work together in a very tough time for Red Bull Racing and I think I saw a lot of moments of tension at that time.

“The problems with the engine, they were quite big at the time. I saw a lot of conversations, quite high-tension conversations.

“But then again, after the initial shock, let’s say after a few races, then the hard work started again and you could see Adrian, he gained his interest back and he really was focusing.

“[He was] talking to drivers, having meetings with us, asking a lot of very precise questions, writing it down.

“And then he always comes back, like a little puzzle with a new front wing, maybe a little winglet here and there and the car just started to be more and more alive.

“But let’s say when it became more alive again, I wasn’t there anymore!”

READ MORE: All to know about Aston Martin managing technical partner Adrian Newey

Red Bull take a step forward in solving Max Verstappen’s problems with their 2025 F1 car

Last season saw Red Bull’s performance drop off compared to McLaren and Ferrari, almost perfectly coinciding with Newey ending his work on their Formula 1 project.

Verstappen took to making changes to his car without the factory’s knowledge to try and solve the issues he was experiencing.

Red Bull were still a step behind McLaren at the start of 2025, relying on the Dutchman’s superior talent to secure their first victory of the season in Japan.

However, the most recent race at Imola saw Red Bull bring their first major update of the year and it could be a game changer.

Verstappen missed out on pole position by less than two-tenths before pulling off an incredible overtake on Oscar Piastri to take the lead on the opening lap.

Red Bull’s updates then kicked into gear, with the Dutchman able to accelerate away from the championship leader.

Horner will be delighted that Red Bull could make such a marked improvement without Newey, but everyone is now waiting to see what Aston Martin’s car can do next year.