sport news Losing Red Bull's genius Adrian Newey is huge body blow for Christian Horner... ... trends now
Adrian Newey, the most self-deprecating genius in Formula One history, was on Thursday plunged right into the furore that has engulfed Red Bull and their team principal Christian Horner.
The two men are inseparable at trackside. They walk in together and walk out together. They drink coffees together. They put their brains together.
So it was a serious jolt to Horner when news broke that Newey, the greatest designer in the sport’s history, would be leaving the team. Red Bull have not confirmed the revelations — but those who are jilted are always the last to know.
Speculation has been raging for weeks that Newey might be off. It is suggested his wife Amanda has been scoping out properties in Italy, where they might live if he heads for Ferrari and a final chapter in a life in F1 that has taken in successes at Williams, McLaren and Red Bull.
Ferrari and an involvement with Lewis Hamilton would be the perfect coda, not least if they offered him money of stratospheric proportions.
Adrian Newey, left, is the mastermind behind the car taking Max Verstappen to glory, right,
Horner, the 50-year-old husband of Geri Halliwell, centre, knows that his survival is to an extent linked to the employment of Newey, right
Red Bull were last night trying to keep hold of their prime asset. Newey works in the office next to Horner, who in the last few months has been accused of sending sexually suggestive messages to a female employee.
He was cleared by an internal investigation. An appeal process is taking place and the woman concerned this week gave evidence to a KC reviewing the original evidence.
Horner, the 50-year-old husband of Geri Halliwell, knows that his survival is, to an extent, linked to Newey’s employment. If his star man, other than world champion Max Verstappen, were to quit, he would be left in danger of being an emperor with no clothes.
And Verstappen’s place in the team, where he is on target to march to his fourth world title, would be in question — could he be tempted elsewhere? Without Verstappen and Newey, where would Horner be left? In office, but not in power?
That may not come to pass. Red Bull and Newey may yet build bridges and he may stay. They have survived
