Christian Horner could give Adrian Newey new Red Bull role due to F1 cost cap

Follow us on Google Discover

Adrian Newey may have to take on a different position at Red Bull as a result of the F1 cost cap.

Chief designer Newey was the architect of the most dominant car in the sport’s history last year.

But team principal Christian Horner may now be forced into a difficult decision regarding the 65-year-old.

The RB19 won 21 out of 22 Grands Prix last year, narrowly missing out on an unprecedented clean sweep.

Its successor, the RB20, has begun the campaign in ominous fashion with back-to-back one-two finishes in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

Newey is one of the most influential behind-the-scenes figures in Formula 1 history, having been involved in 12 championship-winning seasons across his career.

Before joining Red Bull in 2006, he’d achieved success with Williams and McLaren.

Christian Horner wants Adrian Newey devoted to hypercar project

According to German publication Auto Motor und Sport, Horner wants to move Newey into a full-time role on the Red Bull hypercar project.

This is to ensure that the team are compliant with the Formula 1 cost cap, which they marginally breached in the 2021 season.

Earlier this year, the Advanced Technologies division of the team announced that they would build their first-ever hypercar, the RB17.

The plan is for production to commence on the vehicle, with Newey at the creative helm, in 2025.

The Englishman is thought to be ‘unhappy with the current situation’ at the team.

This could potentially pave the way for an approach from Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur.

Will Adrian Newey join Ferrari?

It’s recently emerged that Ferrari are targeting three top Red Bull engineers, but Newey would truly be the crown jewel.

David Croft has said he ‘would love to see’ the veteran link up with Lewis Hamilton at the Prancing Horse when the seven-time world champion makes his move next year.

Red Bull are expected to retain their advantage over the field until 2026, when there will be another major change to the regulations.

Much will depend on Newey’s appetite to seek out a new challenge as he approaches his 70s.

There have also been suggestions that he could leave the team if Max Verstappen makes a sensational switch to Mercedes.