Red Bull boss Christian Horner insists legendary designer Adrian Newey’s decision to leave the reigning world champions has not been impacted by recent tensions within the team.
Red Bull announced on Wednesday that Newey was stepping back from his role as chief technical officer of the Formula 1 team with immediate effect and will work on other projects before he is allowed to leave early next year.
It has been widely reported that Newey’s decision to leave was influenced by a cooling of his relationship with Horner, with public feuding at the top of the team further disillusioning the 65-year-old.
Asked if tensions at Red Bull were a factor in Newey’s exit, Horner told Sky Sports F1: “Absolutely not. This has been coming for some time.
“There was discussion pretty much 12 months ago that it might have been the time for Adrian to look at stepping back, so I know it’s been on his mind for some time. It’s something we’ve had to plan for.”
Newey’s exit comes with Red Bull on a historically dominant streak, with Max Verstappen chasing a fourth successive drivers’ title and the team a third successive constructors’ title this year.
However, the atmosphere at Red Bull has been clouded by a period of sustained turbulence following the investigation earlier this year by their Austrian parent company into allegations of inappropriate behaviour against Horner by a female colleague. The grievance against Horner, who has always denied the claims, was dismissed on February 28. The woman who brought the complaint has since appealed against the outcome.
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After the news of his Red Bull exit, F1 drivers pay homage to Adrian Newey
Following the allegations against Horner, a perceived power struggle at Red Bull has been playing out with Horner coming under heavy pressure after his star driver’s father, Jos Verstappen, called for the team principal to leave.
“What better time to go than with the run of form we’ve had in the last couple of seasons with the way the team is performing,” Horner continued.
“He’s stepping aside, not leaving the company, but stepping aside from F1 while we are right at the top of our game.
“We will be very sad to see him go. He’s been an immense of our team over the last two decades. It will be with sadness we see him depart but the show goes on.”
Sky Sports F1’s live Miami GP schedule
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Managing partner of the 2024 Miami GP Tom Garfinkel tells Sky Sports’ Craig Slater the improvements they have made to the track and it’s surroundings to improve the experience for both competitors and spectators
Saturday May 4
3.25pm: F1 Academy Qualifying
4pm: Miami GP Sprint (race starts at 5pm)
6.30pm: Ted’s Sprint Notebook
7.05pm: F1 Academy Race 1
8pm: Miami GP Qualifying build-up*
9pm: Miami GP Qualifying*
11pm: Ted’s Qualifying Notebook*
Sunday May 5
6.05pm: F1 Academy Race 2
7.30pm: Grand Prix Sunday Miami GP build-up*
9pm: The MIAMI GRAND PRIX*
11pm: Chequered Flag: Miami GP reaction*
Midnight: Ted’s Notebook*
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
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