Newey-Aston Martin rumors resurface (3rd Update)

This rumor is downgraded to ‘false’ today.

Adrian Newey is happy with Red Bull and, according to Christian Horner, recently extended his contract with the team.

(GMM) New reports suggest Aston Martin is making a big-money bid to lure famous F1 designer Adrian Newey from Red Bull.

We first reported the rumor in September, but Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko told Sport1: “Adrian is definitely under contract with us.

“Adrian was recently able to test a rare Aston Martin and he thanked (Lawrence) Stroll for it. There’s nothing more.”

However, Italy’s authoritative La Gazzetta dello Sport is now reviving the rumor, which if true would reunite Newey with Sebastian Vettel, who won all four of his titles in Newey-penned Red Bulls.

The same Italian newspaper also claims that Aston Martin – currently called Racing Point and colored pink – will have a special livery in Bahrain or China next year to promote the new James Bond film ‘No Time To Die’.

Aston Martin and the James Bond franchise, of course, enjoy an iconic relationship.

(GMM) There is no doubt that both Max Verstappen and Adrian Newey will still be at Red Bull in 2021.

That was the claim of team boss Christian Horner at Sochi, as he fended off rumors that Red Bull could be about to lose two of its biggest assets.

There have been rumors that Lawrence Stroll and Toto Wolff may be successfully convincing top F1 designer Newey to join Sebastian Vettel in switching camps to Aston Martin.

“The situation with Adrian is that he’s been with us for 14 years and is very happy within the team,” Horner insisted.

“He enjoys working in our environment, he’s obviously taken more of a step back in more recent years, but he’s still motivated. He will absolutely be with the team next year – without any doubt,” the Briton added.

Stability on the driver front also appears likely, with Red Bull having staunchly supported its under-fire second driver Alex Albon so far this season.

Horner said it is Red Bull’s “intention” to keep the British-born Thai: “He just needs to build on the kind of performances he put in in Mugello.”

As for Verstappen, there have been rumors that despite his contract through 2023, the Dutchman has various one-sided exit clauses that allow him to escape.

“Obviously the contract between the driver and the team is always going to be confidential,” Horner said when asked about that.

“There will always be speculation regarding that but I’m 100 percent certain Max will be in a Red Bull Racing car next year.”

(GMM) Red Bull has denied it could be about to lose legendary F1 car designer Adrian Newey (shown).

After weeks of looking miserable amid Ferrari’s decline and his impending departure from the Italian team and perhaps Formula 1, Sebastian Vettel was suddenly smiling at Mugello.

His mood might have been a touch of cheekiness as the timing of the Aston Martin announcement coincided with Ferrari’s 1000th race celebrations at Mugello.

Indeed, things are suddenly looking up for the quadruple world champion, as he has the full backing of Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll for 2021 and beyond, and even the background involvement of Toto Wolff.

“The knowledge that Sebastian brings is crucial for the team,” said Wolff, the Mercedes team boss who is also a minor Aston Martin shareholder.

“He will move everyone forward.”

Now, there are even rumors that Vettel could reunite with Newey, who designed all of the 33-year-old’s title winning Red Bull cars last decade.

Newey went part-time at Red Bull several years ago, with team boss Christian Horner admitting at Monza that the state of F1 and the difficult relationship with Renault had soured the 61-year-old’s motivation.

Horner insisted that the new situation with Honda had re-fired Newey’s full involvement.

So when asked about the new Aston Martin rumors, Red Bull’s Dr Helmut Marko told Sport1 at Mugello: “Adrian is definitely under contract with us.”

Attempting to explain the speculation, Marko added: “Adrian was recently able to test a rare Aston Martin and he thanked Stroll for it.

“There’s nothing more.”

Meanwhile, Racing Point boss Otmar Szafnauer played down suggestions that Vettel could carry over his sluggish Ferrari form to Aston Martin next year.

He claims Vettel simply feels unsupported at Ferrari.

“We all need a little love sometimes – especially when you’re mentally pushing the limit all the time,” said Szafnauer, who will also run the Silverstone based team after the Aston Martin rebranding.

“It will be our job to put our arms around him and show him what this team is about. I think he will blossom with us.”