Newey: An opportune moment to seek new challenges for myself

But once reality dawned that Newey was a free agent as of now, and officially set to leave Red Bull during the "first quarter" of 2025, sooner than anyone expected. What his plans are for now and the future remain a mystery.

At 65, Newey may fancy a sabbatical sailing the world on his yacht. Then moving to Ferrari or Aston Martin or even Mercedes; the three big F1 teams capable of luring and also affording Newey's retainer at a time he could probably write his cheque for whatever he fancies.

It would be a fair assumption that what will come to pass is a period of 'gardening leave' before joining fellow Briton, a driver he greatly admires (but has never worked with) Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari whenever the enforced sabbatical ends for Red Bull's Chief Techincal Officer.

But before that happens, explaining why he is departing the team he has won 13 F1 World Championship titles with as well as 117 GP victories and counting, Newey said: "Ever since I was a young boy, I wanted to be a designer of fast cars.

"My dream was to be an engineer in F1, and I’ve been lucky enough to make that dream a reality. For almost two decades it has been my great honour to have played a key role in Red Bull Racing’s progress from upstart newcomer to multiple title-winning Team.

"However, I feel now is an opportune moment to hand that baton over to others and to seek new challenges for myself. In the interim, the final stages of development of RB17 are upon us, so for the remainder of my time with the Team my focus will lie there."

The British super-engineer continued: "I would like to thank the many amazing people I have worked with at Red Bull in our journey over the last 18 years for their talent, dedication and hard work. It has been a real privilege, and I am confident that the engineering Team are well prepared for the work going into the final evolution of the car under the four-year period of this regulation set.

"On a personal note, I would also like to thank the shareholders, the late Dietrich Mateschitz, Mark Mateschitz and Chalerm Yoovidhya for their unwavering support during my time at Red Bull, and Christian, who has not only been my business partner but also a friend of our respective families.

"Also, thanks to Oliver Mintzlaff for his stewardship and Eddie Jordan, my close friend and manager," added Newey, whose departure from Red Bull will bring to an end a long and illustrious era in the team's journey, that began as an F1 Constructor in 2005.

Looking back on Newey-designed cars, the Red Bull announcement recalled: "Adrian’s first true design for the Team, RB3, achieved a podium finish at the 2007 European Grand Prix. The following year his design achieved the Group’s first victory with Sebastian Vettel and Toro Rosso at the Italian GP.

"Following regulation changes and a unique ability to capitalise on them - something that has become a hallmark of Adrian’s stellar Red Bull Racing journey - his clean sheet RB5 design brought the Team its first win, at the Chinese Grand Prix in 2009, and five further victories that season."

Recalling the dominance of a decade and a half ago, the release adds:"In 2010 RB6 carried the Team to its first double-title victory, an achievement that was repeated in each of the following three years. The introduction of hybrid power to F1 in 2014 led to leaner times and a first step back from sole F1 commitment for Adrian to allow the creation of the Valkyrie hypercar.

"The arrival of Honda as the Team’s power unit partner in 2019 reignited his competitive spark. RB16B brought a first Championship in eight years in 2021. An extensive regulation change for the following season resulted in another clean sheet design, the RB18, leading to a new era of dominance starting in 2022 and continuing to this day."

Indeed the current F1 rules have seen the Newey & Co. designed Red Bulls dominate the pinnacle of the sport in an unprecedented manner. More so than their first era of dominance a decade ago with Sebastian Vettel doing the business with four F1 titles in a row.

Hence Max Verstappen is on his way to a fourth consecutive F1 world title crown thanks to the masterpieces overseen by the great designer: RB18, RB19 and now the RB20. The RB21 likely to be Newey's final car for the Blues.