Unnamed F1 team boss warns Christian Horner could look like a ‘fool’ after Adrian Newey exit

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On Wednesday, Red Bull confirmed that Adrian Newey would leave the team in early 2025. And now Christian Horner is under pressure to control the fallout.

Newey is unquestionably one of the biggest names at the team. He’s won 25 titles during his career (12 constructors’, 13 drivers’), with more than half of those coming at Red Bull.

There are those who try to downplay his influence in their success. Horner has talked up the influence of technical director Pierre Wache, while Max Verstappen’s camp may see the Frenchman as an even more important figure.

But Newey himself believes he’s a bigger contributor than he’s been given credit for, and that’s one of the reasons he’s grown unhappy at the team. What’s more, the noises coming from Red Bull certainly suggest his departure could be seismic.

More senior figures are apparently considering their future amid the ongoing unrest at the team. And there’s renewed uncertainty around star driver Verstappen after alarming comments from his father Jos.

As the F1 paddock reconvenes at the Miami Grand Prix on Thursday, Horner will try to control the narrative. But will the rest of his team fall silently into line?

What rival F1 figure had to say about Christian Horner after Adrian Newey news

Speaking to the Dutch version of Motorsport.com, one F1 team principal, who didn’t wish to be named, offered his reaction to the Newey announcement. The 65-year-old can begin work at a new team as soon as he departs, rather than undergoing a spell of gardening leave.

And if that materialises, then it could have major ramifications for Red Bull and Horner. Newey would be able to have significant input into his new team’s first crack at the 2026 regulation changes.

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As it stands, Ferrari appear to be the favourites to sign the Englishman. Fred Vasseur reportedly met with him in London this week, and he’s ‘seriously considering’ the move.

“It would be an absolute disaster for Red Bull if Adrian were to leave prematurely for a competitor,” the team boss said. “Christian would look like a fool.”

Christian Horner will hope Adrian Newey retires

While Horner may publicly wish Newey look in any future F1 endeavours, he’ll privately be hoping that the legendary designer calls time on his career. After all, he’s seen his genius first-hand for nearly two decades now.

And while speculation about a switch to Ferrari mounts, a source very close to the situation has cast doubt on his future in the sport. Friend and manager Eddie Jordan feels Newey is ‘more likely‘ to pursue ‘a change of life’ than he is to join another team immediately.

The last time we saw a significant change to the regulations in 2022, he simply out-thought his competitors to offer Red Bull a lasting advantage. We don’t know the exact specifications of the 2026 cars yet, but suitors will be desperate to have him on board in time to shape their project.

Meanwhile, at Milton Keynes, Wache will look to build his own legacy. He now has the chance to operate outside Newey’s shadow, and prove that he too has been one of the masterminds of Red Bull’s historic success.