Legendary F1 designer Adrian Newey has opened up on his shock split with Red Bull, and suggested the Christian Horner investigation that marred the team's 2024 pre-season was the catalyst.
Following a two-decade stint as chief technical officer at the Milton Keynes squad in which he oversaw two eras of domination, Newey has joined Aston Martin for 2025 on a fat contract worth an estimated $150m plus bonuses over three years.
In a new interview with Auto Motor und Sport, Newey suggested he had no intentions of leaving the team with which he won eight drivers' and six constructors' titles until news of the Horner investigation broke.
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"If you said to me 12 months ago that I would be leaving Red Bull and then now ultimately starting again, I'd have said no, you're crazy," he said.
Former Red Bull chief technical officer Adrian Newey. Mark Thompson via Getty Images
"But for various reasons, I felt I wouldn't be true to myself if I stayed at Red Bull.
"The first difficult decision was exactly that – do I stay or not at Red Bull? We came to the conclusion and being honest with myself I couldn't."
Newey said retirement from the sport altogether was a serious consideration, but believed he would've got bored quickly.
"Having made that decision it was then what to do next? With my wife Mandy, we discussed various things. I am in the lucky position where I don't need to work financially," he continued.
Newey with Aston Martin driver Fernando Alonso at a press conference announcing his switch. Getty
"It could have been to simply retire and sit on the beach, or it could be to do something completely different – America's Cup or maybe work for one of the OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturer) in road cars or stay in racing.
"If I was going to stay in racing then I might as well stay in F1, assuming people wanted me."
Horner was cleared of any wrongdoing by an independent investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards a staff member, believed to be his former assistant.
News of the investigation broke in early 2024, and dominated headlines for weeks. Horner continued to make public appearances and staunchly denied the allegations.
But the outcome of the investigation created a rift in the team's senior management, and led to a fallout between Horner, Jos Verstappen and Helmut Marko.
F1 world champion Max Verstappen (left) with Newey. Clive Mason via Getty Images
It's believed the senior Verstappen and Marko both wanted Horner gone, but Red Bull GmbH's Thai majority owners backed Horner.
Newey is famously apolitical behind the scenes, but the belief was he, too, was upset with the outcome of the investigation.
Power struggle led to widespread speculation Verstappen would be poached by Mercedes to fill the seat vacated by Lewis Hamilton's switch to Ferrari.
Verstappen has since been linked with a move to Aston Martin to follow Newey.
The 2025 F1 season will begin at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 16.
