With the rising uncertainty surrounding Adrian Newey's future at Red Bull Racing, former F1 World Champion Jacques Villeneuve shared his personal experiences with the legendary designer. Villeneuve recalls the profound impact Newey had on his racing career and car performance during their time together.
Villeneuve, who collaborated closely with Newey during their tenure at Williams in the mid-90s, has seen firsthand the visionary capabilities that make Newey a revered figure in the paddock. During an exclusive interview with Lydia Mee via Sports Illustrated, Villeneuve commented:
"I didn't know at the time when I joined in '96. I realized afterwards. He was amazing because I guess he can visualize the car, he can see it, he can see the airflow. And he relates to it but he also relates to the driver. He knows it's not a computer driving. He knows it's not a robot. So even if on the data, the numbers say this is how quick it could be, maybe a driver cannot drive it. It doesn't feel natural."
The departure talks at Red Bull have emerged amidst rumors of internal tensions and conflicts, notably involving team principal Christian Horner. While Horner has been cleared of any wrongdoing with further investigations pending, the unsettling atmosphere could indeed influence pivotal team members like Newey and even the team's star driver, Max Verstappen.
Newey's holistic approach goes beyond pure engineering; he integrates driver feedback into the design process—a rarity that endears him to many who have steered his creations. "And he's able to accept that and work around and work with a driver. And that's why he's made so many amazing cars. He is definitely the best out there and he has always been able to reinvent himself," Villeneuve added.
Reflecting on the impact of Newey's departure from Williams, Villeneuve recalled, "We saw that because he designed a '97 car based on '96 and by the end [it was] based on what I was feeding him because I was going to be the driver of the following year. But then he left and we felt it because halfway through the season, we were nowhere. It took a while for the new people involved to get the ball rolling again. It's hard to beat that combination of Adrian Newey."
Rumors have been filling the Formula One paddock recently of Newey informing Red Bull that he would like to leave the team. Speculation has suggested either a move to Ferrari or Aston Martin, or even retirement.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
