Adrian Newey's parting gift to Red Bull Racing is the extraordinary RB17 track-only $6.5-million hypercar he conceptualised and intends to have a hand in right through to production as he eases out of the Formula 1 team he joined two decades ago.
Where Newey is going next has been and is subject to speculation ever since he announced he was departing Red Bull at the end of this season, easing out from his position as Chief Technical Officer by early next year. But the RB17 will keep him connected to the team he is ditching.
Speaking to motorsport fans and media attending the Goodwood Festival of Speed, where Red Bull were celebrating their 20 years as an F1 team.
Of his final project with for the organisation, the road-going RB17 named after the F1 car that never was, Newey said: “I guess there’s a number of years I’ve been in F1 that to keep myself fresh and avoid going stale, I feel sometimes I need other projects to kind of give inspiration and so forth so that when I’m in F1, I’m not feeling as if I’m always doing the same thing.
“The Valkyrie was the first project in that mould, then I kind of started to think what can be the next project? I didn’t want to simply do Valkyrie 2, it had to be something different. I pondered that for quite a while.
“I’ve been lucky enough over the years to have driven lots of different cars from 1960s cars, racing at the [Goodwood] Revival and so forth, through to modern F1 cars. The exhilaration, the speed and the sensations you get from that are something else.”
Newey: Part of the enjoyment is playing the game
Newey explained the thought process: "I started to think, ‘Okay, could we come up with a car which would be accessible to drivers with relatively limited track experience and they could then grow with the car?’
“The model I kind of pictured in my own head, if you like, is say you decide you want to start playing golf, then you go to a golf club, hit a few balls and the balls go flying everywhere, but you enjoy it. Then you think, ‘Right, I want to get better at this’, so you employ a caddie, coach…
“Part of the enjoyment is playing the game, and part of it is [helping] yourself to become better at the game, and this is trying to take that same model," explained the 65-year-old, aka F1's winningest greatest designer.
Newey will remain with a foot in the F1 World Champion team's Milton Keynes garage: "I will continue to be involved in the development of the RB17 through production and so forth. I’ve really put a lot of time into this in terms of evenings and weekends, trying to fit it in with F1.
“I certainly want to see it through to completion. The shareholders at Red Bull, Christian [Horner, Red Bull team boss], everybody else are very supportive of that, so I will be still involved on this side of things," revealed Newey.
Feverish speculation has abounded about his future since Newey announced his departure from Red Bull. Prompting reports that:
- a deal signed with Ferrari team principal Fred Vassuer in London to join Lewis Hamilton at Maranello;
- a tour by Adrian of Aston Martin (cleared-for-the-occasion) F1 HQ hosted by Lawrence Stroll waving a fat cheque;
- an ambitious Williams boss James Vowles is vying for Newey's services
- Flavio Briatore has Newey in his sights for Alpine!
- Last but not least, a spot to sail his self-built Oyster Yacht around the world. Waiting for the highest bidder and return to action in 2026.
Take your pick!
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