Lewis Hamilton is a big fan of veteran designer Adrian Newey, who is expected to depart Red Bull before his contract with the Formula 1 team expires.
Adrian Newey, the outgoing designer for Red Bull, expressed his gratitude to Lewis Hamilton for expressing that he would love to see him at Ferrari, but he did not elaborate on his plans for the future.
As Red Bull’s chief technology officer, Newey has spent almost twenty years working with the current world champions. After finishing the RB 17 project, he is expected to depart before his contract officially expires at the end of the 2025 season.
The 65-year-old’s choice has raised a lot of questions about his future, including rumors that he met with a Ferrari representative prior to Red Bull’s official exit. Hamilton has already stated that he will join the Italian squad in 2025, so Newey’s addition would be even more advantageous.
Hamilton, the seven-time world champion, praised Newey’s track record and said he would be a “amazing” addition. Even though Newey was acting a little more sly, he seemed to take the driver’s remarks seriously.
Hamilton responded “very much” when asked how eager he would be to collaborate with Newey. The 39-year-old clarified, “Adrian has such a great history and track record.
It’s clear that he has excelled throughout his career at leading teams and applying his knowledge. He seems like such a fantastic addition. Ferrari already has a fantastic squad. Their car is faster this year, and they have already made enormous strides forward. It would be an honor to collaborate with Newey.”
In response to a question concerning Hamilton’s remarks, Newey stated: “I’m flattered by Lewis’s kind words. However, for the time being, just take a short break and watch what transpires.”
Christian Horner, the Red Bull team principal, stated on Friday that Newey’s departure had been planned for a while and wasn’t hastened by the team’s recent turmoil. Newey’s own remarks, though, seemed to cast doubt on this.
“When asked if he had been planning to take a long break, the designer replied, “If I’m honest, kind of,” prior to this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix. “It seems like things have been going on [within Red Bull] during the winter. I have the great fortune to not require employment in order to survive this year. I enjoy what I do for a living. I simply thought that this is a good time to take a step back, take a little vacation, reflect on life, and take some time to travel.
“It’s all-consuming, Formula 1. It’s been a while since I started doing it. The competitive race with Mercedes in the championship and the intense focus on developing the [RB]18, the forerunner of this generation of vehicles, made 2021 an extremely hectic year. I’m not sure when it happens, but eventually I start to feel a little bit exhausted, just like Forrest Gump did.”
