Adrian Newey has extended his contract to remain at Red Bull, the team has confirmed.
The “new multi-year agreement” will see Newey take on new projects within Red Bull Technology, “as well as advising and mentoring Infiniti Red Bull Racing as it develops its Formula One cars over the next few seasons”.
Widely considered to be the best designer working in Formula One today, Newey masterminded the cars which took Red Bull to four consecutive constructors’ championships from 2010 to 2013. During that time Sebastian Vettel claimed all four drivers’ titles in their cars.
Newey joined Red Bull in 2006, following championship-winning stints at McLaren (1998-2005) and Williams (1990-1997).
He was rumoured to have been approached by Ferrari following their disappointing start to the 2014 season.
2014 F1 season
- Which was F1’s best down-to-the-wire title fight?
- Fear of rules change led Mercedes to run dominant 2014 engine in “idle mode”
- Mercedes’ Bahrain battle “too dangerous” – Warwick
- Streiff’s comments on Bianchi crash investigation prompts legal action from FIA
- Is stewarding improving? Analysing 2014’s penalties
Browse all 2014 F1 season articles
Image © Red Bull/Getty
Aqib (@aqibqadeer)
8th June 2014, 15:46
so what does multi-year mean till 2017?..maybe
PorscheF1 (@xtwl)
8th June 2014, 15:57
At Red Bull things starting with Multi usually mean either nothing to some people or trouble to others.
HiPn0tIc (@hipn0tic)
8th June 2014, 16:19
COTD KUDOS
Andrei (@crandreico)
8th June 2014, 16:04
Maybe a contract to 2016 with the possibility of an extended one until 2017?
Osvaldas31 (@osvaldas31)
8th June 2014, 16:09
In other news, Vettel extended his contract with Red Bull until 2017, lol.
Andrei (@crandreico)
8th June 2014, 16:10
And on the same day, AMuS is saying that a time-out, a sabbatical year, or whatever, is the most likely outcome from him. http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/formel-1/was-macht-adrian-newey-formel-1-auszeit-immer-wahrscheinlicher-8397752.html
Sven (@crammond)
8th June 2014, 16:15
“Advising and mentoring” does sound like far less than he is doing now, doesn´t it? “Other projects” seem to be outside of F1?
HiPn0tIc (@hipn0tic)
8th June 2014, 16:24
I was doing that quote….this sentence can mean that he will be inside Red Bull world but more outside from Red Bull Racing…If so things will necessary change, not only because of the year 2014 bualsot with Newey taking ” on new projects within Red Bull Technology…”
BasCB (@bascb)
8th June 2014, 17:24
It does @crammond. Seems like tying him up in England and out of any other teams while moving on.
timi (@timi)
8th June 2014, 21:07
@crammond Correct, he’ll be primarily focused on projects outside of F1. As he and Horner said in the Sky pre-F1 show he will continue mentoring the designers and general car teams, however he will be based in other areas
Jack (@jmc200)
8th June 2014, 16:20
From the way that’s worded, it does seem like he’s taking a back seat from F1. Maybe the other projects are a road car with Inifiniti as Eddie Jordan hinted at?
David Not Coulthard (@davidnotcoulthard)
8th June 2014, 16:45
Probably yachts…
Becken Lima (@becken-lima)
8th June 2014, 16:53
So, looks like he is retiring…
Bearing in mind that Newey´s main strenght is in the aero department, I guess that those last developments in F1, with the performance differential been focused in the power train, could be pushing Newey to this kind of slow retirement.
Another question to be answered is who could replace him in Red Bull F1 as chief designer…
Tifoso1989 (@tifoso1989)
8th June 2014, 16:59
It seems that Newey exploited Ferrari’s interest to extract the best possible deal from RBR(genius at work), he must have solid reasons and obvious plans to refuse a stratospheric salary and bonuses that Ferrari offered him as well as the possibility to design their next super car the replacement of LaFerrari. I expect Vettel also to stay at RBR as long as Newey is in charge there.
HiPn0tIc (@hipn0tic)
8th June 2014, 17:44
@tifoso1989 I have serious doubts about that.
Gilles V
8th June 2014, 17:30
I think it is semi retirement. And he won`t be going to the competition…
Spencer Ward (@)
8th June 2014, 18:04
It’s simply Red Bull keeping him locked away from others. Even if he doesn’t design their car from here on forwards it’s just better to pay him to not be in another team.
dam00r (@dam00r)
8th June 2014, 18:44
Will Newey work with LeMans cars?
Mark Thomson (@melthom)
8th June 2014, 21:27
So Mateschitz has forgotten all about leaving F1 then?
Todfod (@todfod)
9th June 2014, 7:10
This is the most depressing news of the year :(
Now my only hope is Alonso joining Red Bull… maybe a Vettel – Alonso swap?