JUST IN:Newey’s Exit Report Sends Shockwaves Through F1.

Newey set to leave Red Bull – reports

Adrian Newey has told Red Bull he wants to leave the team, according to reports.

Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport first reported on Thursday afternoon that the legendary designer is reportedly set to leave F1’s dominant world champion team, having been a central part of their success since joining in 2006 and designing the cars that have taken them to all 13 of their world titles.

“I do believe there is something in this,” reported Sky Sports News’ Craig Slater.

“Certainly multiple senior figures I have spoken to have expressed to me that, yes, there is discontentment with Adrian Newey and that he is certainly seriously considering bringing his time at Red Bull to an end.

“But what I can also say is that I have been in touch via official channels with the Red Bull team themselves and they have explained to me that they are unaware of any official communication from Newey notifying of his intention to serve notice and leave Red Bull Racing.”

The bombshell news about Newey’s reported exit, which would send shockwaves around F1 should it materialise, comes amid a period of sustained turbulence at Red Bull following the investigation earlier this year by their parent company into allegations of inappropriate behaviour against team principal Christian Horner by a female colleague.

The grievance against Horner, who has always denied the claims, was dismissed on February 28. The woman who brought the complaint has since appealed the outcome, which is ongoing.

“I think perhaps [this Newey news] is more to do with the power struggle that has been the background to the Horner situation,” add

“It has been destabilising. I will have been a factor I think in making him question to what extent his future lies with the team.”

Newey, 65, is one of the most revered and successful figures in Formula 1’s history and had previously designed multiple title-winning cars for McLaren and Williams before being convinced by Horner to join a then-fledgling Red Bull team in 2006.

“I have been reporting for the last few months that the key relationship at Red Bull between Newey and Horner has cooled,” added Slater.

“There has been more of a distance between them over these last months than there has been previously and that has had to do with some of the friction going on behind the scenes at Red Bull.

“The perceived power struggle there and also with the fact that Newey on occasion, given certain comments that have been made, has had his role within the team and his influence on designing these championship-winning cars perhaps rather undervalued with some of the comments that have come out from Red Bull.”

What is Newey’s contractual situation?

“He is contracted at Red Bull Racing until the end of 2025,” reported Slater.

“As I understand it, he would have to serve another year of gardening leave were Red Bull to hold him to the full extent of his contract – which would mean he would not be able to work for another Formula 1 team until 2027.

“Red Bull, as I understand it, are also unaware of any formal approach from another Formula 1 team to Newey. The one or two individuals I have spoken to who are close to Newey have said that if he is seriously considering leaving, he has not made up his mind about what direction his future career should take.”

Newey has long been linked with a switch to Ferrari, having confirmed in the past he had turned down three lucrative offers from the Italian marque, with speculation around such a tie-up only heightening since they signed Lewis Hamilton for 2025.

Recent reports also suggested that highly-ambitious Aston Martin were making a play for his services.

Newey’s current role at Red Bull had been expanded in recent years to include projects with the Milton Keynes outfit outside of F1, including the creation of their first hypercar, the RB17.

Red Bull had repeatedly said in recent weeks that Newey remained committed to the team, having extended his contract last Spring.