Adrian Newey’s recent statements might provide a glimmer of hope for Red Bull’s Formula 1 competitors. Newey confessed that the team is encountering challenges in boosting performance in the 2024 season, with the pace of progress tapering off.
Since the implementation of the ground effect rules in 2022, Red Bull has asserted its dominance in Formula 1, clinching victory in all but seven of the 48 races held in the past three seasons. Their supremacy has been undisputed.
However, eyebrows were raised in February when Red Bull unveiled their 2024 car, the RB20. It marked a significant departure from its predecessor, raising questions about the team’s strategy and direction.
Despite the radical changes, Red Bull hasn’t missed a beat. They continued their winning streak by securing their third one-two finish in four races at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka. This impressive feat was accompanied by the introduction of their inaugural upgrade package for the season.
While Red Bull maintains a comfortable lead in both the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships, Newey’s acknowledgment sheds light on the team’s struggles. He admitted that in the third year of the current regulations, finding avenues for improvement has become increasingly challenging.
Newey expressed his perspective, stating, “From a design point of view, I enjoy regulation changes, providing those regulation changes give a reasonable amount of freedom.”
It’s a sentiment that underscores the intricate balance between innovation and conformity within the constraints of Formula 1 regulations.
“I must admit, when I first saw these current regulations that I was quite depressed by them, they looked extremely prescriptive” he added.
“Luckily, there was a bit of a relaxation towards the end. But actually, once we got into the detail, combined with that relaxation, there’s been a reasonable amount of freedom within them – as you saw particularly early in 2022, there were lots of different solutions.
“They’re starting to converge now, but we’re now into that sort of: ‘OK, we’ve done some visual changes for this year’s car, but the principles are the same’, so the differences are reducing internally.
“In our case, we’re struggling to find the gains. In terms of aero gains in percent per month, [we] are flattening without doubt.”
Newey’s remarks follow his recent sighting at Bologna airport, amidst swirling rumors suggesting that the esteemed F1 design maestro has been courted by Ferrari. The current aura of uncertainty surrounding Red Bull off the track has reportedly put their rivals on high alert.
Speculation intensified last month when reports surfaced indicating that Lawrence Stroll, the owner of Aston Martin, had extended a highly enticing contract offer to Newey during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix weekend.
Ferrari’s pursuit of Newey has been characterized by German publication Auto Motor und Sport as “clearly serious this time,” marking a significant shift from their previous attempts. The Scuderia’s interest in Newey isn’t new; they came tantalizingly close to securing his signature back in 2014.
