Adrian Newey now unlikely to join F1 team with ‘big questions’ to answer this season

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Red Bull Racing’s period of domination at the top of the Formula 1 standings could be coming to an end sooner rather than later.

After completing a season where they won 22 out of a possible 23 races, Red Bull are now nervously looking over their shoulder to see whether any of their rivals will overtake them in the Constructors’ Championship in the final 10 race weekends of the season.

McLaren will fancy their chances with Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri in good form, while Mercedes have finally discovered some pace after winning three of the last four Grand Prix.

Red Bull are also about to enter a period of transition they haven’t experienced during their time in the sport.

Rob Marshall is already working his magic at McLaren and sporting director Jonathan Wheatley will be joining Audi as their new team principal before they join the grid in 2026.

However, the biggest name moving on from Red Bull is design genius Adrian Newey.

It was announced earlier in the season that the 65-year-old would be departing after nearly 20 years with the team.

Newey’s next destination isn’t yet known but speaking on the Nailing the Apex Podcast, journalist Lawrence Barretto has shared how potential destination he’s unlikely to be seen at.

Aston Martin are desperate to sign Newey and could offer him a huge contract to make the deal happen.

Newey is said to be deciding between two teams because Barretto has shared that he can’t see him joining Ferrari next year.

The Italian giants started the season brilliantly but have fallen away in recent months.

Question marks over Ferrari’s updates have seen them go from being Red Bull’s closest challengers to arguably the fourth-fastest team on the grid.

Ahead of the changing ruleset in 2026, Newey would have been a formidable asset but instead, Ferrari are going to have to face the issues without his expertise.

READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Scuderia Ferrari from team principal to factory

Lawrence Barretto doesn’t think Adrian Newey will be joining Ferrari

Talking about the current situation at Ferrari, Barretto said: “I think I would like to see how they can respond because I think Fred’s had his honeymoon period.

“He then had this really good start to this year. And I think the way that he kind of reshapes the team, especially as Enrico Cardile’s left, he said there’s going to be some technical announcements after the summer break about how they’re going to reshape that department.

“It doesn’t look like Adrian Newey’s going there. So, I think there are some big questions to be answered from a Ferrari perspective about the short-term development and then obviously the medium to long-term plans as well and Lewis is obviously going to be keen.”

What ‘very senior source’ has told David Coulthard about Adrian Newey’s future

Ferrari appeared to be very keen on signing Newey once it was known that he would be leaving Red Bull.

He would be joining in the same season as Lewis Hamilton creating a super team ahead of the 2026 campaign that would be incredibly hard to beat.

However, it appears as though if Newey is going to continue in F1, he’ll be staying in the UK rather than moving to Italy.

David Coulthard was told by a very senior source that Newey wouldn’t be heading to Ferrari although the designer’s manager Eddie Jordan disputed that claim.

He’s been quick to deny any rumours about Newey’s future instead wanting to wait until he’s ready to make and then announce any decision himself.

Newey is by no means a guarantee of success in Formula 1 as nothing ever is given the thousands of variables that must be considered within the sport.

However, given his previous track record, you would much rather have Newey working in your factory than anyone else’s if you were a team principal.