F1 | Newey, what future is that subject of desire aiming for?

Adrian Newey is part of the troika of Red Bull managers who are excluded from the Budget cap cost limits along with Christian Horner and Helmut Marko. In the chaos that the Milton Keynes team is experiencing, there are those who try to mix poisoned meatballs in an attempt to disintegrate a staff that is dominating F1 despite the very strong internal wars. According to the background information reported by some media, the world champion team should be on the verge of exploding at any moment, with all the top figures ready to pack their bags.

Christian Horner, also speaking about Max Verstappen, after the double in Jeddah was very clear: “You can't force a person to be part of a group just for a piece of paper, if someone decides they no longer want to be part of this team you can't force him to stay against his will, and this applies to all roles, whether it's a driver, a technician or anyone else. Being involved in a Formula 1 team like Red Bull Racing involves commitment and passion. Max has it, we've seen it, he's been here since he was 18, I don't have the slightest doubt about his commitment and his passion”.

The Germans at Auto Motor und Sport, usually well informed, claim that Newey is nervous because Adrian would not be satisfied because Horner would like to move him to the RB17 Hypercar project to reduce Red Bull Technology's costs, since from 2026 it should no longer be possible divide an employee's working time between the various projects active in the Group.

The RB20 is a single-seater that has also demonstrated with its wingman Sergio Perez that it is superior, so it should not be surprising to see Newey take an interest in the Hypercar, especially since the new single-seater from Milton Keynes was born well in advance of the competition and the developments they may have already been programmed, so Adrian could dedicate himself to the RB17 while waiting for the study on single-seaters to begin in 2025 for the new 2026 regulation which has not yet been defined by the FIA.

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing RB20

Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images

Why on earth could Newey, who has always been closely linked to Christian Horner rather than the Austrians, change his tune? There is a valid reason and it could have its weight: it is rumored that the power unit that is being studied in Red Bull Powertrains would be further behind than they could have expected, despite the violent purchasing campaign with which many engine engineers were snatched from Mercedes of Brixworth.

This could be the valid reason why Ford would have ridden the Horner case and in particular the sexgate, which then quickly deflated, to threaten to break the partnership. There were no ethical issues, but at most technical ones. Adrian doesn't like to lose and, perhaps, designing the best car for a “deflated” engine might not motivate him much. In reality, the rumors about the power unit had fueled themselves after Horner had raised the alarm about the difficult management of 50% of electric power which had hinted at the unpreparedness of the “drinkers” to transform themselves into Manufacturers.

Paddock rumors say, however, that the state-of-the-art RBPT unit would certainly not be the worst, so certain alarms should be set aside. What about Newey, then? It is destined to remain where it is unless the air in Milton Keynes becomes truly unbreathable.

Pierre Wache, technical director of Red Bull Racing

Picture of: Motorsport Images

The one who is not experiencing the situation well is Pierre Wache, the real Red Bull technical director: the 49-year-old Frenchman, an excellent organizer of the system, would be tired of seeing all the merits attributed only to Newey, considering that Milton Keynes' superiority derives from a very strong and prepared group. It is therefore easier for there to be Waché more than Adrian on the launch pad.

It is no mystery that Pierre was on Maranello's wish list, just like Adrian, but both had rejected the offers they received. It's difficult to think that they want to come to Italy, so Waché could look elsewhere. The director, in fact, should enter the heart of Sports Management to manage the staff, while Newey, with current technologies, could also work remotely from Great Britain.

One last note: if Toto Wolf really wanted to snatch Max Verstappen from Red Bull, fueling the rumors of wanting to leave the team with which the Dutchman has a contract until 2028, the Austrian would have to build golden bridges with Adrian . Newey in F1 built his career in Force, Leyton House, Williams and McLaren and he misses an experience with the Star just like at Cavallino. Of course, the Austrian manager has just renewed his trust in James Allison, so it is more likely that everything will remain as it is…