Ahead of the Miami GP, when the Red Bull team was gearing up for a tough showdown, they were handed over unexpected news. The team’s senior personnel, Adrian Newey, cleared his intentions to part ways with the squad. After a two-decade journey, Newey decided to part ways with the Austrian outfit. The veteran car designer was responsible for RBR’s unparalleled domination. However, his exit left the team clueless, and they were about to miss out on the expertise of an experienced engineer.
Since the official announcement of Newey’s exit, his future move has been a trending topic. He was linked to Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren, and almost every F1 team. The Italian media predicted a Newey-Hamilton partnership, while other reports suggested a move to Mercedes. Ending all the debates and speculation, Aston Martin finally signed the Briton as its technical spearhead. However, Christin Horner recently made a glum remark regarding Newey’s grand welcome.
Adrian Newey’s Grand Welcome Termed As “Premature” By Christian Horner
The Silverstone squad held a massive press conference to welcome its new Managing Technical Partner. Lawrence Stroll’s squad was in a tug-of-war with Ferrari to sign Adrian Newey. However, Aston Martin’s latest wind tunnel and facility helped them win over the aero wizard. Thus, Stroll invited the media and Aston Martin drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll to celebrate Newey’s entry. The top F1 journalists like Will Buxton, Lawrence Barretto, Andrew Benson, Luke Smith, Craig Slater, and Ted Kravitz were present during the conference. Meanwhile, Stroll Sr. introduced Newey as a shareholder and the technical head of the Silverstone team. Moreover, according to an ESPN report, the Briton would earn a whopping $26 million annually. The final sum could climb upto $40 million, including bonuses.
However, the Red Bul chief was unimpressed with this mega event. According to F1 journalist Adam Cooper, Horner termed the celebration ‘premature.’ Moreover, the RBR chief said, “Newey tends to do his own things.” “Obviously, it was a big moment for that team, and they chose to celebrate it – perhaps potentially slightly prematurely, before he’s finished his contract with Red Bull Racing… “These remarks are due to Newey’s remaining tender with the Milton Keynes-based outfit. The 64-year-old engineer is still a member of Red Bull till the first quarter of 2025.
Why Does Adrian Newey’s Aston Martin Move Make Sense?
Apart from money and stature, Lawrence Stroll’s ambitious plan drew Newey to the Silverstone outfit. The Green team is on the outlook of becoming an F1 elite. As a result, Stroll is investing heavily in the squad to improve its factory and services.
Another reason Newey signed a contract with Aston Martin is ‘control.’ The Briton overlooked Ferrari as the Italian team was not interested in handing over the ‘decision-making’ power to Newey. According to Italian media AutoSprint, the team was ready to offer a mammoth salary but not the control. Thus, the aero wizard inked an Aston Martin contract.
