Just last Tuesday, Aston Martin held a huge press conference to announce Adrian Newey as their new Managing Technical Partner for the 2025 season. While this was a very positive day for the Silverstone Team, Red Bull was not happy at all.
Ever since Adrian Newey announced that he would be leaving Red Bull, a lot of F1 teams have been trying to sign him. For a while, it seemed as though Newey would be heading to Ferrari. However, Aston Martin entered the scene and sealed the deal. The information of Newey signing with Aston Martin was leaked a few days prior to the official announcement.
But when the official announcement was made on Tuesday, Aston Martin decided to make it a grand affair. They spared no expense in setting up the whole thing. There were several photos taken of Newey along with the Aston Martin backdrop and the 2024 challenger. It was a huge moment for the team. As all this was happening, Newey was technically still under the Red Bull Payroll. And now, there will be consequences.
Adrian Newey grounded by Red Bull
Just after the press conference at Silverstone, Newey went back to the Red Bull headquarters to start working on the RB17 Roadcar. The team and Horner was not at all happy with what had just happened. Here’s what Horner said about the Aston Martin press conference:
“It was a big moment for that team, they chose to celebrate it, perhaps potentially slightly prematurely, before he’s (Newey) finished his contract with Red Bull Racing”
🚨 | OFFICIAL: Adrian Newey will join Aston Martin on a basic salary of £20m, rising to £30m with bonuses.
Do you think this will help Aston Martin win a championship? #F1 #Formula1 pic.twitter.com/PFEUAQdjrO
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) September 10, 2024
Adrian Newey was scheduled to travel to the US Grand Prix later this year. However, the team has now decided to ground him and not allow him to travel whilst still working for Red Bull Racing. So this brings us to the next question –
When can Newey leave Red Bull Racing?
Adrian Newey has not been working with Red Bull’s F1 Team since the Japanese Grand Prix. Although he did attend the Miami GP, he was there to mainly promote the RB17 car and not as part of the Red Bull F1 team. He recently stated this during a podcast.
“I have been out of the Formula 1 team since after Suzuka, whenever that was late April, but I have still been working hard on the RB17 road car which is a side project.” Newey said
“I will still be working on that until after that March 1st date but not from the factory as much, it will be more talking to the guys via video conference and emails and when the car starts track testing in the summer and attending the track testing.”
⚠️ | Lawrence Stroll reportedly has his sights set on an Aston Martin swoop for Max Verstappen.
Talks to make this happen are reportedly already in progress.
Italian publication Autosprint which correctly called Newey to Aston Martin claims Stroll is now ‘aiming for’… pic.twitter.com/df34CU7MLh
— Fastest Pitstop (@FastestPitStop) September 11, 2024
Although he is not a part of the F1 team, Newey will continue to work for Red Bull Racing to help develop the RB17 Roadcar. He will be working with Red Bull until he officially joins Aston Martin on March 1st. But even after he joins Aston Martin, Newey will continue to help Red Bull Racing with the RB17 project via video call.
It is going to be interesting to see what Newey can do in Aston Martin as the new regulations approach. Do you think Aston Martin can win a championship with a Newey-designed car? Post your thoughts in the comments section below.
