Adrian Newey’s departure from Red Bull was officially confirmed on Wednesday in a major blow to the Formula One world champions.
The team confirmed their chief technical officer will leave the Red Bull group in the first quarter of 2025.
Newey has spent nearly two decades with the team and is viewed as the mastermind behind the cars that have taken them to seven drivers’ titles in two stints, through Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.
Red Bull confirmed that Newey will be stepping back from his F1 duties, with his final months at the group set to focus on the development and delivery of Red Bull’s first hypercar.
The RB17 was officially announced 2022, with Newey and Red Bull Advanced Technologies behind the creation of the car.
Red Bull have confirmed the imminent departure of F1’s most successful designer Adrian Newey
Newey pictured with Christian Horner, left, and Max Verstappen, centre, will step back from his F1 duties
The group said two seat hypercar will deliver the ‘ultimate on-track driving experience’.
When announcing the development of the car, Red Bull said it will be powered by a hybrid engine developing over 1,100bhp and will be designed around a carbon composite tub.
The RB17, which takes its name from cars produced by Red Bull for Formula One, is claimed will have the ‘most advanced ground effect package available in a series production car.’
The development of the hypercar, of which only 50 will be made, is viewed as a passion of Newey’s with the designer spearheading the project.
‘The RB17 distills everything we know about creating championship-winning Formula One cars into a package that delivers extreme levels of performance in a two-seat track car,’ he said in February.
‘Driven by our passion for performance at every level, the RB17 pushes design and technical boundaries far beyond what has been previously available to enthusiasts and collectors.’
Newey is set to fully focus on the development of the car, which is due to go into production in 2025, in his final months with the team.
He is understood to be wanted by Ferrari to act as their ‘super consultant’. He currently earns £15million a year at Red Bull and could double his salary with the potential switch.
Newey, left, will instead focus on the development of Red Bull’s hypercar before leaving in the first quarter of 2025
Red Bull Advanced Technologies released a concept photo of the RB17 hypercar in February
A move to Italy would bring F1’s most successful designer into partnership with Lewis Hamilton, who is joining the Scuderia next year.
Newey will continue to attend races this season, including in Miami this weekend.
His departure is a blow to the world champion team and embattled boss Christian Horner, the team principal who brought Newey from McLaren to Red Bull nearly 20 years ago.
Red Bull insist Newey’s departure is not directly linked to the allegations that have engulfed the team since news of allegations of coercive behaviour were made against Horner in February, but driven by growing resentment at how he has been less than fully credited for the team’s success.
