Christian Horner has emphasized that his relationship with Adrian Newey remains strong despite suggestions of a rift contributing to the Formula 1 design maestro’s decision to depart from Red Bull.
Newey’s impending departure from Red Bull, scheduled for early 2025, marks the end of an era during which he played a pivotal role in the team’s achievements alongside drivers like Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, following his move from McLaren in 2006.
This announcement follows a turbulent period for Red Bull, who, despite maintaining their dominance on the track, have encountered various off-track challenges, including an investigation into Horner’s behavior that was concluded in February.
Speculation arose about a strained relationship between Newey and Horner, with Sky F1 reporter Craig Slater suggesting that a disagreement with Horner influenced Newey’s decision to exit, citing a perceived distancing between the two over the past year.
This speculation was fueled further by Newey’s wife reacting to remarks made by Horner last winter, where he seemingly downplayed Newey’s significance to Red Bull, prompting her to criticize Horner’s comments on social media.
However, addressing the media during the Miami Grand Prix weekend, Horner refuted claims of discord, affirming that his rapport with Newey remains positive. He disclosed that Red Bull had been preparing for Newey’s eventual departure since 2014, following a period when Newey had come close to joining Ferrari.
When questioned about whether he was confident that Newey’s departure wasn’t linked to the controversy surrounding him, Horner asserted, “I’ve spoken to Adrian at length about that, and Adrian’s position is very clear.
“We have enjoyed a great relationship, and we continue to enjoy a great relationship. We are friends as well as work colleagues and he’s done a huge amount for this team.
“We’ll be sad to see him leave, but he’s left the team in good shape and we’ve got a great team of people and strength and depth to take us forward.
“If you speak with Adrian and look at the statements that he’s put out, Adrian’s decided that the timing for him is now – after pretty much 35 years [in F1], with the team and the strength and the engineering depth that we have – to step away.
“We knew that time was coming and we’ve built a structure in place to be able to pick up the baton and carry on with it. That’s something that’s been put in place over the last five or six years.
“I think that we’re well positioned for the future in the technical team that we have.
“We always knew this day was coming and it’s something that from 2014, when Adrian came very close to leaving, that structure was assembled.”
Horner expressed contentment over Red Bull’s ability to retain Newey for a more extended period compared to his previous Formula 1 teams, Williams and McLaren.
He remarked, “Unfortunately, nothing is forever. Adrian was at Williams for seven years, he was at McLaren for seven years and we managed to have him for 18 years, so I think we’ve enjoyed some great moments on and off track.
“It’s been a wonderful journey with Adrian. He’s a friend, he’s the godfather to my children and we remain friends.”
Before departing Red Bull, Newey allegedly received contract propositions from Aston Martin and Ferrari. Reports from Italy suggest that he met with Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur in London before heading to Miami.
A potential move to Maranello would pair Newey with Lewis Hamilton, who disclosed his intention in February to join Ferrari for the F1 2025 season alongside teammate Charles Leclerc, forming a formidable F1 super team.
During an interview with Sky F1 in Florida, the 65-year-old designer stated that he currently has no concrete plans but did not dismiss the possibility of returning to Formula 1 in the future.
He mentioned, “I think Mandy, my wife, and the dogs, we’ll probably go traveling, we’ll probably get a motorhome or something, go down through France and just enjoy life.
“And then maybe at some point, I’ll be standing in the shower and say: ‘Right, this is going to be the next adventure.’ But right now, there is no plan.”
