Will the departure of “the mastermind” trigger a demolition at Red Bull? “Then Ferrari seems a better place for Verstappen”

No Adrian Newey, no more world titles? The (possible) departure of the top designer at Red Bull could well be the first domino to fall for the world champion. “Max Verstappen can use it as an excuse to also resign,” said Sporza Daily.

With 4 wins in 5 races, Max Verstappen seemed to have blown away the crisis at Red Bull. But the world champion does not remain silent for long.

Yesterday the BBC broke the news that Adrian Newey is resigning. The top designer is fed up with the internal power struggle at the Austrian racing team and the controversy surrounding team boss Christian Horner.

A seismic shock, because in 20 years at Red Bull, the Briton was the mastermind behind the cars that won 7 world titles for Sebastian Vettel and Verstappen.

“He is the master designer of Red Bull,” agrees Frank Woestenburg of FORMULA 1 Magazine. “He still has a major share in the current success.”

What makes the Brit so good? “He not only has a master’s degree in aerodynamics, but has also been a performance engineer and vehicle dynamics engineer.”

“In short, he is one of the few who knows all aspects of the F1 car,” adds motorsport engineer Massimiliano Bottiglieri. “That makes him so strong. He can also convert that knowledge into a winning machine. He is a mastermind in the entire game.”

It is an open secret that Ferrari has been pulling on Adrian Newey’s sleeve for years.

Frank Woestenburg

A guarantee of world titles… Which F1 team wouldn’t be interested in that? Although the competition will have to dig deep into their pockets to attract Newey.

“There are two F1 drivers who earn a lot of money: Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton,” says Woestenburg. “Newey is the 3rd big earner in the paddock. He is on the wish list of all teams.”

“It is an open secret that Ferrari has been pulling his sleeve for years. In 2022 they wanted to double his salary, reportedly around 20 million euros per year.”

“Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko was able to persuade Newey at the very last minute to stay. One of the decisive arguments was that he could then continue to live in England, close to his family.”

It was no longer possible to convince Newey to remain loyal to Red Bull. How big is the impact for the Austrian racing team?

“Newey has built a very good team around him,” said Woestenburg. “Nowadays the Frenchman Pierre Waché is technical director at Red Bull and therefore the man who shapes the F1 car. He is therefore the intended successor.”

“If Newey leaves, Red Bull must do everything it can to ensure that Waché does not leave.”

So there is a successor, but analysts fear that more dominoes may now fall for the world champion. “Max Verstappen could see it as an opportunity to also leave,” says Bottiglieri.

For Verstappen it will be a hint that Red Bull will no longer be so dominant.

Frank Woestenburg

Woestenburg also takes that scenario into account. “Everything will be overhauled in 2026 with new engine regulations. Honda, the current supplier of the world champion, will stop and Red Bull will build its own engines with the help of Ford.”

“That is a completely new chapter. If a lot of experience is lost, it seems to me that Red Bull can still be leading.”

“For Verstappen it will be a sign that they will no longer be so dominant. Red Bull remains a manufacturer of energy drinks, not a recognized engine manufacturer.”

“Then you think that Verstappen will be in a better place with a team like Ferrari or Mercedes, where the risk will be less. Newey’s departure may therefore play a role in Verstappen’s decision to also leave.”

Then the question remains: where does Adrian Newey’s future lie?

“He has always said that he would love to work with Lewis Hamilton,” Bottiglieri says. “Then he has to go to Ferrari. Coincidence or not, this week he was spotted in Italy.”

Aston Martin, with the wealthy and hyper-ambitious owner Lawrence Stroll, will not miss this opportunity. “Newey has already rejected Ferrari to continue living in England. That is also possible with Aston Martin,” said Woestenburg.

Whatever his choice, the principle of “gardening leave” still applies in Formula 1. To prevent an employee from simply switching to a competitor with all confidential information, he must first be inactive for a period.

“But Newey himself has already indicated that he can negotiate his way out of it,” Woestenburg concludes.

Will another domino fall soon?