MIAMI – Max Verstappen said Adrian Newey's impending departure will have no impact on his immediate future, stressing that it is “not as dramatic as it seems” for Red Bull's dominant title-winning team.
On Wednesday, Red Bull confirmed that the F1 design legend will leave the team in early 2025, ending a 19-year tenure with the team. Newey has been instrumental in turning Red Bull into one of F1's leading teams over the past two decades, although he has scaled back his involvement in recent years and turned to a less day-to-day role as chief technical officer.
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Asked on Thursday, ahead of the Grand Prix weekend in Miami, whether Newey's departure would have an impact on his future with the team, Verstappen said: “Not at the moment… the other people are making up a lot of things because they don't.” I understand what the roles are in the team, but of course I can't deny that I would have preferred him to stay, just because of his personality.
“His knowledge and what he might bring to another team if he wants to work. I also trust that the people we have are incredibly good.”
“If someone really wants to go, they should go, that's what I wrote to them. If you think it’s the right decision for you and your family, you have to do it.”
“Ultimately, Formula 1 is a shark tank. At the end of the day everyone thinks about themselves. I know that. I'm not stupid. So that’s fine,” he added.
Red Bull has been expecting Newey's departure for some time. Sources have told ESPN that the team has signed technical director Pierre Wache to a new five-year contract in early 2024, as Newey is likely to depart.
Verstappen was quick to praise the strength of the entire Red Bull team. “Of course since he started at Red Bull [Adrian] was incredibly important to the success they had. Over time his role has changed a bit and many people don't understand what he actually did.
“I'm not saying he hasn't done anything, but his role has evolved. A lot of good people joined the team who strengthened the entire department. Of course I would have preferred if he had stayed because you can do that.” Always rely on his experience and as a person he is a great guy to talk to and build a relationship with.
“He's very smart and clever, but he would also talk to the driver and translate that into the car so he would try to imagine himself driving, but I also really trust the technical team to do that we have outside of Adrian is really strong. They have shown in recent years how competitive the car is.
“From the outside it looks very dramatic, but if you know what's happening inside the team, it's not as dramatic as it seems.”
There is currently intense speculation about Newey's future.
ESPN sources said he has received offers from both Ferrari and Aston Martin, although it is understood he has not yet decided what the next step in his career will be.
During a podcast last year, Newey said he regretted never having had the opportunity to work with Lewis Hamilton or Fernando Alonso during his storied career. Now he seems to have a chance to cross one thing off the list: Hamilton will move to Ferrari in 2025, while Alonso has signed a deal to keep him at Aston Martin until 2026.
