Adrian Newey’s Ferrari salary demands emerge after Aston Martin deal ‘finalised’

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Adrian Newey is reportedly set to join Aston Martin in 2025. The legendary designer is leaving Red Bull in the early part of next year after handing in his resignation in the spring.

Newey had come close to joining Ferrari three times during his storied career and finally seemed set to move to Maranello. The Scuderia were confident of signing him even before he quit Red Bull.

Indeed, Ferrari mentioned Newey in talks with Lewis Hamilton. But if the seven-time world champion thought he’d finally get a chance to work with the 65-year-old, he’ll now be disappointed.

Newey’s Ferrari move looked ‘done’ before a ‘dramatic’ late turnaround. That opened the door for Lawrence Stroll.

Newey has now chosen to join Aston Martin, with an announcement likely to be made next month. It’s a risk to drop down to the team who are currently fifth in the standings, but Stroll tabled handsome incentives.

Indeed, Newey will out-earn 15 drivers next year, including McLaren superstar Lando Norris. And he’ll also have influence over technical hires and partnerships at Silverstone.

Adrian Newey wanted Ferrari to double his Red Bull salary

According to former F1 driver Robert Doornbos, who’s now an analyst for Viaplay, Newey asked Ferrari for twice the amount he was earning at Red Bull. This was in addition to seeking ‘greater control over technical staff’.

Much as Ferrari were determined to sign him, team principal Fred Vasseur saw this as too high a price. The Frenchman will now have to find an alternative.

His technical director Enrico Cardile is also joining Aston with Newey’s approval. This has left Vasseur heading up the department himself in the interim.

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

Leclerc expects Vasseur to hire a specialist quickly, but there’s little noise about potential candidates at present. The team have dropped from second to fourth in the competitive order this season.

“Newey’s demands were high,” Doornbos wrote on his LinkedIn page. “He sought a salary double what he earned at Red Bull and greater control over technical staff. This proved too much for Ferrari’s team boss, Frederic Vasseur, and the negotiations ultimately fell through.”

Adrian Newey was househunting near F1 team’s factory

The wages of the three highest-paid staff members are excluded from the F1 cost cap. Assuming Newey would have slotted into that bracket at Ferrari, they may well have been able to afford it given their might.

Newey’s Red Bull salary is unknown, but he’s due to earn about £385k per week at Aston Martin. Ferrari may have been concerned about breaking their wage structure, or more likely, about giving him too much power within the organisation.

The Englishman himself seemed to be keen on the move. Newey was househunting near Maranello as he prepared to leave his homeland for the first time in his F1 career.

But ultimately, he wasn’t willing to compromise in his demands. And that’s why he’ll be donning British racing green next year rather than scarlet red.