New rules could inspire Newey to refocus on F1

Looming Formula 1 rule changes could re-fire Adrian Newey's motivation to continue work at the pinnacle of the sport.

With Red Bull's famous but disgruntled car designer having lifted the throttle on F1 in order to concentrate on other projects, he was recently linked with a role at the F3 team Van Amersfoort to support his teenage son Harrison.

However Red Bull official Helmut Marko denied that to Auto Motor und Sport, "That has been clarified already. The Van Amersfoort team has denied it."

Newey is, however, definitely already working with renowned sailor Ben Ainslie on his America's Cup project.

"We have a gliding contract with him," Marko explained. "Depending on requirements, he devotes his time to Formula 1 or to other activities. At the moment it's about 50-50."

But he said that percentage could change now that the sport has acknowledged the need to introduce significantly faster and more aggressive cars and engines for 2017 or 2018.

"Adrian worked a lot on the car this year," Marko insisted, "but not with the same 100 per cent bite as before - he knew that we would not win, no matter what he did. But now with the new chassis rules, he has tasted blood once again."