April 26, (THEWILL) – Adrian Newey, hailed as the greatest Formula 1 car designer and a driving force behind Red Bull’s championship dominance, is reportedly on the verge of leaving the team. This potential departure comes in the wake of the Christian Horner controversy, according to media reports circulating on Thursday.
The 65-year-old, who has been with Red Bull since 2005, has played a pivotal role in the team’s 13 world titles – seven drivers’ and six constructors’ championships – since 2010. However, sources suggest he has become unsettled within the Red Bull ranks ever since allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour surfaced against team principal Christian Horner from a female employee.
While an internal investigation by Red Bull’s parent company cleared Horner of any wrongdoing and subsequently led to the suspension of the female employee, who is now appealing the decision, the situation has sparked a power struggle within the team. There have been independently verified reports of Newey’s desire to leave, stemming from his dissatisfaction with the handling of the Horner situation.
The unrest has extended to world champion driver, Max Verstappen, who has also expressed frustration with the circumstances. Last month, Verstappen’s father, Jos, warned that the team risked being “torn apart” if Horner remained as the principal. Despite their on-track dominance, with Verstappen winning 19 of 22 races and the team capturing all but one race in 2023, doubts linger over the Dutchman’s future with Red Bull.
Newey, who has also worked with championship-winning teams like Williams and McLaren during his illustrious career, has been strongly linked with a potential move to Ferrari. While a Red Bull spokesperson stated they were “unaware of him joining any other team,” the departure of their legendary designer could deal a significant blow to the team’s future prospects.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
