[Rumours] Adrian Newey to leave F1 at the end of 2014?/ Newey to Ferrari? (Merged)

[wnut]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

That was the March 83G, which won back to back in '83 and '84 but that was a long time ago and a lot has changed since then, regarding car construction and PUs.

Funny you should bring up PUs, I was thinking what a big fan Adrian is of the things.

If the WEC came up with a decent superlight class; for proper cars, not Trabants; I think Adrian may be interested.

Audi oilers, or batteries, not so much!

[GT6]

Well in football if you get an announcement like that you know that time is ticking

[321Go]

Looks like the answer to my question is, no. Adrian Newey will not be leaving F1 at the end of 2014.

Newey had previously assured that he will end his F1 career at Red Bull Racing. And has publicly said so. Back in late October last year, when I started this thread, I had heard from very reliable sources that Adrian Newey was having thoughts of - and could be planning on leaving Red Bull Racing at the end of 2014. This led me to the question if he would be leaving F1 altogether at the end of 2014. But it has been reported in the media recently that a switch to Ferrari could be on the cards.

Although - it must be said, as of today, Adrian Newey has no definitive F1 contract for 2014. He is yet to commit to Red Bull, or any another team in F1 for next year. No doubt in the next couple of months we would be able to get a definitive answer to the question I put in the thread title.

Meanwhile, Ted Kravitz from Sky Sports F1 interviewed Horner and Mattiacci from the Monaco paddock yesterday. Interesting replies.

[wnut]

I liked Mattiacci statement that he did not have a shopping list as they already had the best people in place.
A refreshing change at Ferrari!
Perhaps he will be better than expected and will indeed have the skills necessary to spur Ferrari on to better things!

[321Go]

Was that a slip up at 1:19 by Mattiacci when he said "yes", but then went on to clarify he wasn't the man making any offers to Newey?

[Born Racer]

I've merged the two threads about Newey's future.

[wnut]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

I've merged the two threads about Newey's future.

Wish you had corrected the spelling of Adian's name!

[321Go]

Originally Posted by wnut

Wish you had corrected the spelling of Adian's name!

Was correct before the merge.

[321Go]

Question. What would stop Adrian Newey from going to Ferrari? Or to put it another way - why wouldn't he go to Ferrari?

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by 321Go

Question. What would stop Adrian Newey from going to Ferrari? Or to put it another way - why wouldn't he go to Ferrari?

He doesn't want to be in F1 anymore.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by 321Go

Question. What would stop Adrian Newey from going to Ferrari? Or to put it another way - why wouldn't he go to Ferrari?

I would think that amongst his reasons to not join Ferrari would be the internal politics at the Scuderia, the Italian press and possibly the lack of freedom to work in his own way. These, amongst others, were the reason that John Barnard refused to base himself in Italy, and instead set up offices in the UK, different ones for the two times that he designed their cars.

Even then, Barnard was still hampered somewhat by internal in-fighting at the Scuderia, and I don't think that Newey would be able to work under de Monte...

[321Go]

What if Newey was offered total control and freedom? A no questions asked freedom to lead and let create?
Which is exactly what he has at RBR now.

I'm sure Newey is aware of the politics and red tape involved when working for Ferrari. So if he was to be assured full control of his team, that would be a mighty big piece of the cake for him to digest. And I'm sure Ferrari would know what Adrian Newey needs to create a winning chassis. And would offer him exactly what he requires.

[Tucky]

Can't imagine Monty letting go of control,even to Newey

[wolfhound]

It seems that Mercedes also made an offer to Newey. How many tech heads does a team need?

http://www.grandprix.com/ns/ns28121.html

Although if you had Newey on board I suspect some of them would have gone gardening.

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by 321Go

What if Newey was offered total control and freedom? A no questions asked freedom to lead and let create?
Which is exactly what he has at RBR now.

I'm sure Newey is aware of the politics and red tape involved when working for Ferrari. So if he was to be assured full control of his team, that would be a mighty big piece of the cake for him to digest. And I'm sure Ferrari would know what Adrian Newey needs to create a winning chassis. And would offer him exactly what he requires.

Which is what Barnard was promised. However, you would be dreaming if you anyone would expect Ferrari to act in a way that not in their DNA. Luca di Montezemolo has grasped the mantle that Old Man Ferrari left behind, and that is to never, ever give away authority whether you are right or wrong. The old man made many mistakes during his time, but although he may have regretted them deep down inside, he never admitted so in public. Luca di Montezemolo is exactly the same.

[321Go]

James Allen seems to think there'd be no issues with Adrian Newey going to Ferrari. As long as he is given free rein.

I think given free rein, Adrian would be happy to go. There is absolutely nothing else that would stop him, or get in the way anymore.

[Moneyseeker]

How about a Ferrari swoop for Newey, Horner and Vettel...?

[Moneyseeker]

Originally Posted by Mike Harte

Which is what Barnard was promised. However, you would be dreaming if you anyone would expect Ferrari to act in a way that not in their DNA. Luca di Montezemolo has grasped the mantle that Old Man Ferrari left behind, and that is to never, ever give away authority whether you are right or wrong. The old man made many mistakes during his time, but although he may have regretted them deep down inside, he never admitted so in public. Luca di Montezemolo is exactly the same.

Whilst I agree in many ways, I do think Ferrari are realising that they need to give autonomy to react quicker and allow the designers to spread their wings.

As James Allen's excellent piece suggests, the current culture of fear of failure coupled with impossible deadlines has led to a very conservative approach.

[321Go]

As I tried to explain in another post, this is exactly why Domenicali exited. He was not allowed to do things he wanted to, and had one hand tied behind his back with expectations from others of winning the impossible fight.

Alonso has been credited by some for Stefano's exit. But Alonso is also frustrated with what was happening above and beyond Domenicali'. Not Domenicali. And Alonso too will soon walk out of the team.

[Moneyseeker]

Originally Posted by 321Go

As I tried to explain in another post, this is exactly why Domenicali exited. He was not allowed to do things he wanted to, and had one hand tied behind his back with expectations from others of winning the impossible fight.

Alonso has been credited by some for Stefano's exit. But Alonso is also frustrated with what was happening above and beyond Domenicali'. Not Domenicali. And Alonso too will soon walk out of the team.

Agreed, but there may be those in Ferrari that thought that it was all down to a Red Bull only factor, now that Mercedes are doing the same it may have made them think more about how to react?

[Paradise City]

Easy to sign off formally on "free reign" for Newey.

But in practice when that volcano of politics erupts in Ferrari and in Italy he may very well find himself submerged in a lava of media hysteria Pompeii style.

[wnut]

Originally Posted by 321Go

As I tried to explain in another post, this is exactly why Domenicali exited. He was not allowed to do things he wanted to, and had one hand tied behind his back with expectations from others of winning the impossible fight.

Alonso has been credited by some for Stefano's exit. But Alonso is also frustrated with what was happening above and beyond Domenicali'. Not Domenicali. And Alonso too will soon walk out of the team.

From what I gathered Domenicali exited Ferrari on a plank with his hands tied behind his back and a sabre prodding him along!

It was a "resignation" in name only!

[321Go]

Have an update. Adrian Newey will be staying with Red Bull with a new "multi-year" agreement. Official announcement.

Interesting to note the agreement is for Newey to be in a advisory role to the F1 team.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Autosport are carrying this,

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/114345

The first two lines of the article are interesting in themselves.

''Adrian Newey has signed a new contract with Red Bull, but he will step away from his day-to-day involvement with the Formula 1 team to work on other projects.''

[Mike Harte]

Very shrewd move by Mateschitz and his advisors; if we can't have Newey, we'll make damn sure that nobody else will either. Newey has an incurable itch to design (and build) an America's Cup racing yacht for many years (this was why he originally wanted to leave McLaren, before he was poached by Red Bull). It is not beyond the realm,s of possibility that he has been offered the opportunity to design one for a Red Bull sponsored Team Austria as one of the "projects".

Whatever, the way that I read it is that he had decided to leave Red Bull Racing, for whatever reason, contrary to what others on here have said, and this will stop him joining any of their rivals. As I say, shrewd!