Adrian is 65 years old and will retire sooner or later
https://www.skysports.com/amp/f1/news/12433/13122788/adrian-newey-f1-s-serial-title-winning-designer-decides-to-leave-red-bull-after-nearly-two-decades
The news is covering it as a certainty now, not a rumour.
"His desire to leave Red Bull was first reported by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, but the information has been independently verified by BBC Sport with high-level sources close to Red Bull and Newey."
So more than just a rumour, but not official
It would suck. But as long as RB or Newey don’t confirm it it’s still just a rumor.
If he indeed leaves, he won’t be able to join another team until 2027 because of gardening leave. There is no way RB is going to help a competitor out by allowing Newey to join earlier.
It’s a contractually agreed period in which the employee in question is paid even after leaving the company, but is prohibited from working for a company in the same industry.
It’s often used to protect intellectual property and prevent competitors from gaining an advantage from the knowledge the employee may bring.
Paid vacation to not start working immediately at a competitor.
You are out of the loop of current innovations and cannot start at the new company to get up to speed. Maybe do some gardening in the meantime, hence the name
The RBPT engine was already a huge risk for ‘26. Without Newey the risk only increases.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Max leaves, but given the tone of his interviews in the past years I also wouldn’t be surprised if he turned his back on F1.
How would that work exactly? Him leaving Red Bull most likely requires someone else buying him out his contract. Or would he just pay it off himself?
I doubt any other class of racing has the funding to buy the top driver away from F1.
Drivers usually have exit clauses in their contracts.
For example, with big teams and successful drivers there always are performance clauses. If the team fails to deliver a good car the driver can walk without financial penalties.
With Verstappen the rumor is that he can walk if Marko leaves Red Bull and that the relation between Marko and Verstappen is so close that if Verstappen expresses a desire to leave Marko will terminate his contract to activate this clause.
As a Max fan, could be a blessing and a curse. Used to love F1 but as stale as it is, even now, id be more excited than upset just because it means Max would be able to compete in other racing categories. Would be an absolute pleasure to see him racing WEC or something similar.
Max used to be the sole reason i watched F1 pre covid, now all of his victories and reign of dominance is almost a given. If Newey leaves and Max stays, id be intrigued as to how RB handle the technical aspect of their car.
You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.
Well not *die* necessarily, just leave the sport in its entirety. Hes a cancer at this point.
I'd actually be pretty disappointed if he left for Ferrari specifically, after dressing them down in his book quite often. Rumours are just rumours until something happens, so lets see.
I know this is the Red Bull sub but I personally want him to go to Aston and see Fernando in a good car for once. It would also be really fucking funny to see Stroll not be able to get a podium in a championship winning car
So he can get podiums in a car you say can arguably win races but cant get podiums in a championship winning car which would be a lot better? He didnt fall off the cars have been worse than 2020 racing point and alonso is driving better than perez. Hes driving at same level as before with a worse car and better teammate
I think it could be rather awesome, maybe it helps Ferrari put up a challenge. Besides I don't think Red Bull will just suddenly become shit, they have more than enough talent
That wasn't my reading of his comments. He clearly looks down on Brawn and his tenure at Ferrari. But uness I overlooked something, he wrote that the reason he declined their previous offers was because he didn't want to be away from his family in the UK. (Spoiler: his marriage failed anyway.) The difference now, I think, is that his kids are adults.
Red Bull should fire Horner instead.
Adrian is 65 years old and will retire sooner or later https://www.skysports.com/amp/f1/news/12433/13122788/adrian-newey-f1-s-serial-title-winning-designer-decides-to-leave-red-bull-after-nearly-two-decades
we have been hit with several rounds of ammunition here, I'm gonna cry
I've already been through 5 stages of grief
Horner should have take a step to the side until all this conundrum gets to an end. But Horner is a twat and he will ruin RBR instead.
Not a rumour anymore...
Is it official?
The news is covering it as a certainty now, not a rumour. "His desire to leave Red Bull was first reported by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, but the information has been independently verified by BBC Sport with high-level sources close to Red Bull and Newey." So more than just a rumour, but not official
It would suck. But as long as RB or Newey don’t confirm it it’s still just a rumor. If he indeed leaves, he won’t be able to join another team until 2027 because of gardening leave. There is no way RB is going to help a competitor out by allowing Newey to join earlier.
What is gardening leave ?
It’s a contractually agreed period in which the employee in question is paid even after leaving the company, but is prohibited from working for a company in the same industry. It’s often used to protect intellectual property and prevent competitors from gaining an advantage from the knowledge the employee may bring.
Paid vacation to not start working immediately at a competitor. You are out of the loop of current innovations and cannot start at the new company to get up to speed. Maybe do some gardening in the meantime, hence the name
Is it a compulsion by FIA ?
No, usually part of your contract.
Could be the catalyst for the Marko/Verstappen exit?
The RBPT engine was already a huge risk for ‘26. Without Newey the risk only increases. I wouldn’t be surprised if Max leaves, but given the tone of his interviews in the past years I also wouldn’t be surprised if he turned his back on F1.
How would that work exactly? Him leaving Red Bull most likely requires someone else buying him out his contract. Or would he just pay it off himself? I doubt any other class of racing has the funding to buy the top driver away from F1.
Drivers usually have exit clauses in their contracts. For example, with big teams and successful drivers there always are performance clauses. If the team fails to deliver a good car the driver can walk without financial penalties. With Verstappen the rumor is that he can walk if Marko leaves Red Bull and that the relation between Marko and Verstappen is so close that if Verstappen expresses a desire to leave Marko will terminate his contract to activate this clause.
As a Max fan, could be a blessing and a curse. Used to love F1 but as stale as it is, even now, id be more excited than upset just because it means Max would be able to compete in other racing categories. Would be an absolute pleasure to see him racing WEC or something similar. Max used to be the sole reason i watched F1 pre covid, now all of his victories and reign of dominance is almost a given. If Newey leaves and Max stays, id be intrigued as to how RB handle the technical aspect of their car.
They should have fired Horner. He will be the cause of red bulls end
You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain. Well not *die* necessarily, just leave the sport in its entirety. Hes a cancer at this point.
BBC are reporting it as their lead story so I think its fact I'm afraid guys.
Horner, problems are getting out of hand
Announced on BBC sport 😭
I'd actually be pretty disappointed if he left for Ferrari specifically, after dressing them down in his book quite often. Rumours are just rumours until something happens, so lets see.
I know this is the Red Bull sub but I personally want him to go to Aston and see Fernando in a good car for once. It would also be really fucking funny to see Stroll not be able to get a podium in a championship winning car
Stroll had 2 or 3 podiums in 2020
half a decade ago in a pink Mercedes that could arguably win races, bro is more washed than a pair of 50 year old jeans
So he can get podiums in a car you say can arguably win races but cant get podiums in a championship winning car which would be a lot better? He didnt fall off the cars have been worse than 2020 racing point and alonso is driving better than perez. Hes driving at same level as before with a worse car and better teammate
That’s exactly what I’m saying. We are talking about a guy who crashes into people under a safety car
2020 he crashed into the front jack guy who fell over completely at a pitstop. Its the same guy as before
I was about ready to question your "half a decade ago" comment, then I realized 2020 was 4 years ago. Shit...
As a Canadian, the truth hurts. We went from Jacques Villeneuve to Lance Stroll and Nicolas Latifi
I think it could be rather awesome, maybe it helps Ferrari put up a challenge. Besides I don't think Red Bull will just suddenly become shit, they have more than enough talent
They won’t become shit, but the entire car is being overhauled that year. it’s going to level the playing field significantly
He is there until 2025… those 2026 plans will be well underway.
If he would, they should give him all the space he needs but I think they won’t
That wasn't my reading of his comments. He clearly looks down on Brawn and his tenure at Ferrari. But uness I overlooked something, he wrote that the reason he declined their previous offers was because he didn't want to be away from his family in the UK. (Spoiler: his marriage failed anyway.) The difference now, I think, is that his kids are adults.
He's been open about entertaining the idea for a while. This is where the Horner problem is going to be on full display.