Adrian Newey spoke to Sky Sports F1 in his first interview since Red Bull confirmed the legendary designer is leaving the staff; watch the Miami GP Sprint on Saturday at 5pm, with Qualifying at 9pm and the race itself on Sunday at 9pm – stay on Sky Sports F1
Adrian Newey has admitted he’s “flattered” by Lewis Hamilton’s comments relating to the potential of the legendary designer becoming a member of him at Ferrari subsequent season.
Red Bull introduced on Wednesday that Newey was stepping again from his function as chief technical officer with rapid impact and can work on different initiatives earlier than he’s allowed to go away early subsequent yr.
Hamilton, who’s leaving Mercedes to hitch Ferrari subsequent season, stated on Thursday that it will be “amazing” if the Italian staff had been in a position to signal Newey.
Newey, who’s at this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix as he continues to work on Red Bull’s RB17 hypercar mission, spoke solely to Sky Sports F1’s Martin Brundle on Friday.
Lewis Hamilton stated Adrian Newey can be an incredible addition to Ferrari after the chief technical officer confirmed his exit from Red Bull this week
“F1 is all consuming. I’ve been at it for a long time now,” Newey stated.
“2021 was a extremely busy yr due to the tight battle with Mercedes, by way of the championship and on the similar time, placing all of the analysis into the RB18 [the 2022 car].
“There comes some extent the place I simply felt, as Forrest Gump stated, ‘I’m feeling a bit bit drained’.
“It’s very kind of Lewis to say that. I’m very flattered. At the moment, it’s just take a bit of a break and see what happens next.”
Asked how lengthy he had been mulling over his future on the staff, Newey replied: “A short time now. I suppose over the winter a bit bit.
Christian Horner feels Adrian Newey simply needs to take a while for himself and has earned the fitting to step away when the Red Bull is on prime
“Then as occasions have unfolded this yr, I assumed, I’m in very fortunate place the place I needn’t work to stay. I work as a result of I get pleasure from it.
“I simply felt now is an effective time to step again a bit, take a break and take inventory of life.”
Amid their continued dominance of F1 on the observe with Max Verstappen, Red Bull’s begin to 2024 has featured sustained turbulence off the observe following the investigation earlier this yr by their Austrian guardian firm into allegations of inappropriate behaviour in opposition to Horner by a feminine colleague.
The grievance in opposition to Horner, who has at all times denied the claims, was dismissed on February 28. The lady who introduced the criticism has since appealed in opposition to the result.
‘Right now, there is no such thing as a plan’
Sky Sports’ Nigel Chiu breaks down what is perhaps subsequent for Adrian Newey, after Red Bull confirmed the exit of their chief technical officer in early 2025
While already most strongly linked to a swap to Ferrari in latest days, Newey subsequent strikes past Red Bull are set to be intently monitored by your complete sport.
The 65-year-old stored his playing cards near his chest when requested about what his future would possibly maintain – however didn’t rule out a future job in F1.
“I think Mandy my wife and the dogs will go travelling and get a motorhome or something, go down through France and just enjoy life,” stated Newey.
“Then perhaps in some unspecified time in the future I’ll stand within the bathe and say ‘proper, that is going to be the subsequent journey’.
“But proper now, there is no such thing as a plan.”
We revisit Martin Brundle’s interview with Adrian Newey at his dwelling to debate his profession as ‘the best Formula 1 designer of all time’
The phrases of Newey’s Red Bull departure within the first quarter of 2025 is known to not embrace a interval of gardening depart, which means that he can be free to hitch one other staff in time to nonetheless have vital affect on their 2026 automobile when the game’s chassis and engine guidelines are being dramatically overhauled.
Put to him by Brundle that he would need to be a part of that 2026 guidelines change, Newey replied: “I do get pleasure from regulation adjustments for positive. I’d say this present crop of rules was the largest regulation change we have had since 1983, when flat-bottomed automobiles got here in.
“I actually loved the problem of all of the analysis and all of the detailed designs of that automobile. These two subsequent automobiles [after the 2022 car] are evolutions of that automobile and subsequent yr’s automobile would be the third evolution.
“It’s been a great series. One that surprised me just how much there is in these cars. When I first looked at these regulations, I wasn’t so sure. It’s been fun.”
Sky Sports F1’s stay Miami GP schedule
Managing associate of the 2024 Miami GP Tom Garfinkel tells Sky Sports’ Craig Slater the enhancements they’ve made to the observe and its environment to enhance the expertise for each rivals and spectators
Saturday May 4
3.25pm: F1 Academy Qualifying
4pm: Miami GP Sprint (race begins at 5pm)
6.30pm: Ted’s Sprint Notebook
7.05pm: F1 Academy Race 1
8pm: Miami GP Qualifying build-up*
9pm: Miami GP Qualifying*
11pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook*
Sunday May 5
6.05pm: F1 Academy Race 2
7.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday Miami GP build-up*
9pm: The MIAMI GRAND PRIX*
11pm: Chequered Flag: Miami GP response*
Midnight: Ted’s Notebook*
*additionally stay on Sky Sports Main Event
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