Adrian Newey declines Ferrari offer as more details emerge about his future

Red Bull technical director Adrian Newey, who announced his upcoming departure from the team in May, is set to choose between two English-based teams, McLaren and Aston Martin, rather than consider a move to Ferrari, according to Italian media reports.

Newey, the mastermind behind Red Bull’s hugely successful ground-effects cars, will remain with the team until the end of the first quarter of 2025. His departure announcement sparked much speculation about his next move. With many teams competing for his expertise, Ferrari emerged as a particularly strong contender.

According to a report by Motorsport.com, Ferrari went all out to recruit Newey, with team principal Fred Vasseur even making a formal offer. However, the 65-year-old technical director preferred a specific consulting role. This preference, however, did not fit with Ferrari’s desire to have a project manager in-house. Not to mention Newey’s salary demands, which Ferrari could not meet.

Newey was reportedly in talks with several teams, including Williams, Aston Martin and McLaren, before narrowing it down to the latter two. Speculation suggests that the departure of Aston Martin CEO Martin Whitmarsh could be linked to Newey’s potential integration. Whitmarsh, who controversially ousted Newey from McLaren in 2005, was not favoured by Newey.

According to the report, Aston Martin is currently leading the race to sign the legendary aerodynamicist. Newey recently enjoyed a private tour of Aston Martin’s state-of-the-art facility near Silverstone, fuelling speculation that the team could secure his expertise.

However, McLaren are also said to be in talks with the 65-year-old for a sensational return to Woking. Newey worked with the Papaya team between 1997 and 2005 before joining Red Bull in 2006. However, we may not know what Newey’s choice will be until September at the earliest, due to an agreement with Red Bull that prevents him from announcing terms before the deadline.