Newey leaves Red Bull: What does that mean for Verstappen?

Adrian Newey will leave Red Bull Racing. The departure of the top designer has been in the air for some time and is now official. What does this mean for Max Verstappen, who has argued so much for the fact that the important people should stay with the team?

Adrian Newey's news does not come out of the blue. There has been unrest behind the scenes at Red Bull Racing for some time, and Red Bull Racing's chief technical officer no longer feels at home. In particular, the whole soap opera surrounding Christian Horner and the power struggle with Helmut Marko seems to mean he has finally decided.

His departure would create precisely what Verstappen does not want. The Dutchman has been very clear about his wish for the team: everyone should stay together. Verstappen's future is also unclear due to the unrest within the team. Verstappen wants things to be calm within the team and for the important people to stay. With Newey's departure, that does not seem to be the case.

How important is Newey to Red Bull?

It goes without saying that Newey is an important link within the team. Although Newey has somewhat moved into the background as CTO due to his interest in the RB17 hypercar, that does not take away from the fact that Newey still plays a major role in the design of Red Bull Racing's car. In particular, his knowledge of the 'ground effect' has helped Red Bull immensely with the current generation of cars.

Verstappen was clear when it briefly looked like Helmut Marko would have to leave the team. When asked the same question about Adrian Newey, Verstappen was less adamant. Then he indicated that not every individual could be retained for the team. "I can say that everyone should stay together, but if one person wants to leave, you cannot always stop that. I would like Adrian (Newey) to stay and not go to another team. After all, he has a lot of knowledge."

It is still unclear what the future looks like for Verstappen. The Dutchman still has a contract with Red Bull Racing until 2028, but doubts will grow by the week with all the turmoil behind the scenes. In 2024 and probably in 2025, Red Bull will have the best car, but what about from 2026 onwards?

Will Verstappen leave Red Bull Racing?

Red Bull Powertrains seems to be a thorny issue. Helmut Marko and Verstappen's camp are worried about the engine project falling behind. As long as the team stays together, they are confident that things will work out, but what about if perhaps the most important man in the technical field was to leave? Within Verstappen's camp, will people still have faith that things will work out?

Verstappen will find the lure of Toto Wolff increasingly tempting. Mercedes was also present last time new engine regulations were introduced. With Lewis Hamilton's departure in 2025, Mercedes already have a seat available. They could also welcome Verstappen to the team in 2026.

Yet Verstappen will also be watching Newey. Where will he go? If Newey goes to Ferrari, it will be difficult, if not impossible, for Verstappen to chase him in the short term. If Newey opts for Aston Martin and Honda, though, Verstappen can make the switch. If Mercedes manages to bring in Newey, the chances of Verstappen being pulled will also increase.