Adrian Newey recently appeared on Red Bull Racing’s Talking Bull podcast to discuss his illustrious career as he prepares to leave the team. After nearly 45 years in motorsport and being a key part of Red Bull’s success in Formula 1, Newey reflected on some of his biggest career decisions, key victories and the challenges he has faced in the sport’s transformative hybrid era.
Newey’s journey at Red Bull began with the bold decision to leave his established position at McLaren to join the then-up-and-coming team. As quoted by GP Blog, he explained:
“I saw it as a big challenge. It’s a big risk to my career, but I’m up for the challenge. So when I started racing, I had the ambition and hope that one day I’d win a race.”
He fondly remembered Toro Rosso’s first major win at Monza in 2008 alongside Sebastian Vettel, an emotional victory that set a precedent for those to follow.
“So when Sebastian won the race at Monza with Toro Rosso in 2008, then won in China in 2009, it was a real breakthrough. Then we went on to the last race in 2010, Abu Dhabi, and defied the odds to win the championship thanks to Sebastian’s driving that weekend and Ferrari’s strategy mistakes. Those are memories I’ll never forget.”
But there is a downside to every success, and as F1 entered the hybrid era, Red Bull initially struggled with the change and Newey faced a series of challenging hurdles, but the team adapted despite the challenges and remained a formidable contender.
“Then I had to do work and stuff, but I carried on and I got that one. And of course, 2021 is going to be talked about for years, probably forever. Yes, and I think it was the most difficult year of my life in motor racing.”
It is currently unclear where Newey will go next, but he has been rumoured to be taking a position at either Aston Martin or Ferrari. Newey announced his shock departure from the Austrian team ahead of this year’s Miami Grand Prix. He will officially leave the team after the first quarter of 2025, completing his garden leave.
