Red Bull Racing's Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey has announced his departure set for early 2025. This decision has reportedly prompted another significant exit from the Milton-Keynes based squad.
As the paddock prepares for the Miami Grand Prix, Red Bull Racing finds itself in a state of significant transition. The news of Adrian Newey's planned departure by early 2025 has sent ripples through the team. Known for his incredible contributions to the team's engineering success, Newey's departure appears to be just the beginning of a broader reshuffling within Red Bull Racing.
Newey announced his forthcoming exit while expressing a desire to pursue different ventures, including the development of the RB17 hypercar. "Ever since I was a young boy, I wanted to be a designer of fast cars. However, I feel now is an opportune moment to hand that baton over to others," Newey stated in the team's press release, marking the end of an era for Red Bull Racing.
Christian Horner, team principal of Red Bull Racing, also reflected on Newey's pivotal role in the team's history. "All of our greatest moments from the past 20 years have come with Adrian's hand on the technical tiller. He is also my friend and someone I will be eternally grateful to for everything he brought to our partnership," Horner said in the same press release.
However, the plot thickens as rumors emerge about another key figure at Red Bull Racing. A report from The Times claims that Jonathan Wheatley, the team's Sporting Director, is reportedly considering exiting the team. With responsibilities that include optimizing pit-stop efficiency and understanding F1's complex regulatory environment, Wheatley's exit could indeed be a significant blow.
The implication of these departures is not lost on competitors. McLaren CEO Zak Brown shared insights suggesting industry-wide effects: "I think the stuff that's going on there, it's a bit destabilizing. [Newey is] probably the first domino to fall. My guess is it's not the last based on the résumés that are flying around. We've seen an increase in CVs coming our way from the team."
In response to Brown's comments, a Red Bull spokesperson commented, as quoted by Racing News 365:
"In recent months, all technical leaders have signed long-term contracts with Red Bull Racing. So we are not sure which CVs Zak is referring to, but we do not foresee any significant loss and certainly not the domino effect that Zak is hoping for.
Uncommon Knowledge
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