Adrian Newey now deciding between two F1 teams after rejecting Ferrari switch

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Adrian Newey has now narrowed his decision down to two Formula 1 teams after his move to Ferrari failed to convince the iconic designer ahead of him leaving Red Bull.

The Briton is the most successful car designer that Formula 1 has ever seen after winning 25 championships so far. So, a chance to sign Newey sent the paddock into a frenzy in May as Red Bull confirmed that the 65-year-old is to leave the Milton Keynes crew in February 2025.

It quickly became expected that Ferrari would win the race to land Newey as chairman John Elkann bids to create a new powerhouse line-up. The Scuderia will welcome Lewis Hamilton to the team before the 2025 season to replace Carlos Sainz. But Newey is unlikely to follow.

Adrian Newey is deciding between Aston Martin or McLaren after rejecting Ferrari

That is according to Gazzetta dello Sport, which reports that Newey is still yet to decide who he wants to join but Ferrari no longer seem to be on the Red Bull icon’s list. After months of efforts by Elkann and team principal Frederic Vasseur, the Scuderia have not persuaded him.

Instead, it is now a two-horse race between Aston Martin and McLaren to appoint Newey as their new chief designer. The Silverstone squad and Woking outfit have emerged at the front of the line to offer Newey different options for where to tackle F1’s 2026 regulation changes.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about F1’s 2026 engine and chassis regulations

Joining Aston Martin would offer Newey the chance to turn a midfield team into Formula 1’s latest potential heavyweight. He would also work for the team’s ambitious billionaire owner, Lawrence Stroll, and even fulfil Newey’s regrets about never working with Fernando Alonso.

But McLaren are still in the race with CEO Zak Brown and team principal Andrea Stella eager to sign Newey. Joining the papaya crew would also mark his return to the team after Newey left McLaren to join Red Bull effective from February 2006 after winning a handful of titles.

Lawrence Stroll has offered Adrian Newey a £21m-a-year contract

Newey won one of his 12 constructors’ championships and two of his 13 drivers’ titles while with McLaren. He designed the MP4/13 which secured a championship double in 1998, plus the MP4/14 in which Mika Hakkinen retained the Flying Finn’s title come the following term.

McLaren have largely been a sleeping giant in the championship battle since, with the team yet to add to their eighth constructors’ crown secured in 1998. Only in 2008 when Hamilton won McLaren’s 12th drivers’ championship have they sealed one since Hakkinen’s 1999 title.

Having a chance to take McLaren back to glory or make Aston Martin title threats is now the decision Newey faces having rejected Ferrari. Stroll is putting an enticing deal together, too, as reports suggest that Aston Martin have offered Newey a £21m a year, four-year contract.

His potential wage is one of the reasons why a move to Maranello may have fallen through, as well. Ferrari CEO Benedetto Vigna baulked at Newey’s wage demands to move to Italy in 2025. Newey also initially asked Aston Martin for £50m a year, before dropping it to £25m.