Formula 1 News: Horner hints at Newey’s next move
In a Sky Sports interview, Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has shared some more thoughts on Adrian Newey’s impending departure from Red Bull, and what he thinks he will do next.
Asked in an interview with Sky Sports F1 why Newey has decided to leave Red Bull, Horner said: “He’s been hard at it the last 30 years… seven years with Williams, seven years with McLaren, and he’s done the best part of 20 years with ourselves.
“Just speaking with him, he’s reached a point where the team’s in great, great shape, we’re performing at such a high level, and he feels that now’s the right for him to step away, take a bit of time out.”
Horner stressed that Red Bull’s “key pillars” are in place for the future with the rest of the core technical team “all on long-term contracts”, he admitted the team will miss Newey’s presence when the time comes.
“He’s a formidable engineer,” Horner continued. “He’s always scratching for that last bit of performance… he challenges, he pushes the boundaries.
“Most of all, I’ll miss the camaraderie. We’ve shared a lot of highs and lows over the last 18 years, and he’s been sitting next to me on the pit wall throughout that time. There’s been 117 victories and quite a few world championships along the way.”
Horner added: “I think this has been coming for some time.
“There was discussion pretty much 12 months ago that it might have been the time for Adrian to look at stepping back, so I know it’s been on his mind for some time. It’s been something we’ve been having to plan for.
“And what better time to go than with the run of form that we’ve had over the last couple of seasons, with the way that the team is performing? He’s stepping aside, not leaving the company, but stepping aside from Formula 1 while we’re right at the top of our game.
“We’ll be very sad to see him go, he’s been an immense part of our team over the last pretty much two decades. It’ll be with sadness that we see him depart, but also above everything… the show goes on.”
“I think he’s earned that right to have a bit of time out, spend some time with his wife and family, and that’s what he’s very keen to do,” Horner commented. “Then if he decides that he wants to have another run at F1, who knows? [He might even return to Red Bull]
“The ironic thing is, Adrian’s always hated every single regulation change, and 2026 is a unique one because it’s both chassis and engine regs, but it’s a very different world these days with the cost cap and the restrictions that we have on resource.”
Verstappen’s contract, which runs to 2028, is understood to have a clause that would allow him to leave if Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko were to exit before then.
Horner clarified that there is no such clause in Verstappen’s contract relating to Newey’s departure.
“Max’s contract will always remain confidential but there are no clauses that link to Adrian in anyway to Max,” Horner added.
“They have enjoyed a good relationship over the years, as have our previous drivers.
“Max, as well, understands there has been a planning process to this and it’s not just a knee-jerk [reaction]. So the structure will not change with Adrian stepping back.”