The speculation surrounding Adrian Newey’s future in Formula 1 has intensified lately, following his confirmation of departure from Red Bull in early 2025.
Exiting his role as technical chief at Red Bull, Adrian Newey has implied that retirement from motorsport may not be his next move post his departure from the Milton Keynes-based team.
Renowned for his remarkable record of over 200 grand prix victories and 25 world championships, Newey holds a distinguished status as one of the most exceptional F1 car designers in history.
After nearly two decades with Red Bull, his forthcoming exit in 2025 has ignited discussions about his next career path.
Rumors suggest that Ferrari is actively pursuing Newey’s expertise, with Mercedes also reportedly eager to secure his services for the German outfit.
While retirement remains a plausible option, the 65-year-old has expressed a desire to embark on another F1 venture.
Reflecting on his potential future endeavors, Newey remarked in an interview with Eddie Jordan for Oyster Yachts, “If you asked me 15 years ago, at the age of 65 would I seriously be considering changing teams, going somewhere else and doing another four or five years, I would have said you’re absolutely mad.
“I’ve wanted to work in motor racing as a designer since I was the age of eight or ten. I’ve been lucky enough to fulfil that ambition, to have got that first job and be in motor racing ever since. Every day has just been a bonus. I just love what I do.
“I’ll have a bit of a holiday. As Forrest Gump said at the end of his long run, I feel a bit tired at the moment. But at some point I’ll probably go again.”
Newey will maintain his presence at select F1 races with Red Bull this year, although his main attention will now be directed towards the RB17 hypercar project as he prepares to bid farewell to the company.
Acknowledging the potential void of departing F1 entirely, Newey has conceded that he would miss the competitive nature of the sport.
Reflecting on the allure of motor racing, he stated, “The great thing about motor racing, it can be very painful but every two weeks or so, you know how you’re doing.
“That feedback, I think, is what vitalises the whole thing. And I guess that’s what I’ve got used to over the years and I know I’d missed it if I wasn’t doing it. [Getting] back to where we started, do I go again or do I enjoy my [yacht] and sail off into the sunset?”
The announcement of his departure from Red Bull coincided with the lead-up to the Miami Grand Prix earlier this month, resulting in an unusual weekend for Newey.
Reflecting on the experience, he remarked, “The Miami Grand Prix itself was strange because I was there, I was there in a strategy function on the pit wall, but I wasn’t involved in any of the engineering decisions or any of the engineering meetings.
“I was just being wheeled around for press really. I never thought it would be big news to be honest, I never really thought about it. For it to be in all of the papers and on the telly, it was almost a bit of a shock.”