Formula 1 design guru Adrian Newey left Red Bull a couple of weeks ago, and the racing world has been on fire with speculation about his next move since. Though many believed he would ride off into the sunset on the strength of his multiple successful car designs, Newey recently told the BBC that he was giving serious thought to changing teams and spending another four or five years in the sport.
Newey’s departure from Red Bull won’t be a complete separation, as he will provide support at a few races for the remainder of the 2024 season. The team also confirmed that he would focus most of his efforts on its first road car, the RB17. However, he won’t have further involvement in the next-generation car’s design, which will be an immediate and significant blow to Red Bull’s program.
There’s no telling where he’ll end up, but for Red Bull, it’s the latest in a series of self-inflicted wounds, which kicked off with allegations about team principal and CEO Christian Horner. Rumors surrounding Newey leaving after that scandal heated up, citing personal issues with the team, though a reported power struggle between Red Bull’s two ownership groups likely played a role.
Formula 1 will undergo a major rules change for the 2026 season that will significantly impact how the cars operate. They will gain more electric power and rely on sustainable fuels. With the rules change, the sport also aims to reduce fuel usage from 100kg per race in 2020 to around 70kg.
[Image: motorsports Photographer/Shutterstock.com]
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