Horner under fire as Red Bull losing Newey sinks into F1 world
F1 NewsWednesday, 01 May 2024 at 17:45
As the news and reality of Adrian Newey's departure as Red Bull Racing's Chief Technical Officer - after 20 incredible years - slowly sinks into the World of Formula 1 this May Day, Team Principal Christian Horner has been thrust under the spotlight as the blame-game begins.
For months, British media have focussed on the gossip/scandal side of the Horner sex texting scandal and the impact on his wife, former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, while for the Red Bull team boss it has supposedly "been business as usual" since the saga drifted under the radar. Until today.
While Newey has in no way suggested that the Horner scandal that struck the World Champions on the day they revealed their 2024 F1 car, many believe including Sky F1 and BBC pundits that the sordid affair did not go down well with 65-year-old Newey, and was what ultimately triggered his departure.
Nevertheless, when the "Newey is leaving RBR" news became official today, the finger-wagging began with Horner as the target of blame. First out the blocks was stirrer-in-chief Jos Verstappen who harbours little love for Max's boss.
Verstappen senior told De Telegraaf a few hours after the news broke this May Day: “Red Bull Racing is in danger of falling apart. I was afraid of that earlier this year. For internal peace, key people must stay on board. That is not the case now.
"Newey is leaving and earlier this year it also looked like Helmut would be sent away. For the future, that is not good," insisted Jos who also aired concerns for Verstappen junior's future with the team.
When the news was imminent, Ralf Schumacher told Sky Germany: “Adrian Newey needs harmony, he needs a good atmosphere, a good workplace. But at the moment, you have to say: Red Bull is obviously falling apart. The sole responsibility for this lies with Christian Horner, who is holding on to power with all his might,” Schumacher said.
“I don’t think that will be the last problem he will have when Adrian Newey leaves him. Max Verstappen is already thinking about it too, as is Dr. Helmut Marko if you watch him like that.”
Schumacher: If they hold on to Horner, Red Bull will sink into mediocrity
The impact of Newey's influence of the team was highlighted by Schumacher: “We remember last year when there were problems, he was ill and you immediately saw what went on at Red Bull. Max Verstappen had difficulties.”
"With Newey gone, I give Red Bull a couple more seasons, if they hold on to Horner, the team will sink into mediocrity. I’m pretty sure of that," predicted the 48-year-old six-time Grand Prix winner.
While not yet commenting on the accusations directed at him, the man who lured Newey away from McLaren to Red Bull two decades ago, Horner revealed what a loss Newey will be for the team: “All of our greatest moments from the past 20 years have come with Adrian’s hand on the technical tiller.
"His vision and brilliance have helped us to 13 titles in 20 seasons. His exceptional ability to conceptualise beyond F1 and bring wider inspiration to bear on the design of grand prix cars, his remarkable talent for embracing change and finding the most rewarding areas of the rules to focus on.
"His relentless will to win have helped Red Bull Racing to become a greater force than I think even the late Dietrich Mateschitz might have imagined. More than that, the past 19 years with Adrian have been enormous fun."
Horner: The legacy he leaves behind will echo through the halls of Milton Keynes
"For me, when Adrian joined Red Bull, he was already a superstar designer," recalled 50-year-old Horner. "Two decades and 13 Championships later he leaves as a true legend. He is also my friend and someone I will be eternally grateful to for everything he brought to our partnership.
"The legacy he leaves behind will echo through the halls of Milton Keynes and RB17 Track Car will be a fitting testament and legacy to his time with us," declared Horner.
Part of Newey's departure package includes focussing "on final development and delivery of Red Bull’s first hypercar, the hugely anticipated RB17. He will remain involved in and committed to this exciting project until its completion."
Beyond that, Newey's options have been debated in a recent report on our site weighing up the great F1 designer's options which amount to a sabbatical to sail the world with his yacht, followed by an F1 swansong at Ferrari with Lewis Hamilton, or a big bucks offer from Aston Martin. Not many others can afford him.
Or if he feels like it, he might carry on sailing and do a couple more laps around the planet chasing winds in his boat.
Big Question: Was it Christian Horner's fault that Adrian Newey has decided to quit Red Bull?
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