(Motorsports news) Red Bull revealed earlier this week that Newey will be leaving the Formula One team after working for the Milton Keynes-based firm for two decades, during which time he won seven world titles for drivers and six for constructors.
In Miami’s Formula One paddock, Red Bull was dealt a severe blow by the revelation, although the team downplayed the impact of the 65-year-old’s exit.
They acknowledged that Newey had a significant role in the company’s success, but it also asserted that, in order to maintain its competitiveness when laws change in 2026, it had a solid succession plan in place under technical director Pierre Wache.
Under the Red Bull Powertrains brand, Red Bull has brought its engine program in-house for 2026. As an official works partner, American automaker Ford is contributing both financial and technical support.
However, Ford Performance Motorsports head Mark Rushbrook claimed that Newey’s departure had no bearing whatsoever on Ford’s commitment to Red Bull in the face of rumors that the company will now partner with a worse squad than it signed up for.
“We have huge respect for Adrian in terms of his career and all the things that he has done for many different teams in F1, especially the last 19 years at Red Bull,” Quickbrook
“We have nothing but respect and regard for him, and we hope the best for him in all of his future endeavors.
“Nevertheless, the power unit program for 2026 continues to be our primary priority. This news hasn’t altered that, and it is still moving forward at full speed.”
Rushbrook noted that both Ford and Red Bull typically have succession plans in place, and that Newey’s contract with Red Bull was scheduled to expire in 2025, meaning that his availability from 2026 onwards was never assured.
“Continuity was in the very first discussions that I had with [team principal] Christian Horner,” Rushbrook stated.
“I therefore asked him, ‘How is Red Bull going to be successful in 2026 with all-new regulations?'”
“You always have a succession plan and you are always training and developing people within the organization, just like any good company or racing team.”
“In this instance, it is the same. Adrian is great, so I’m not trying to be disrespectful, but every team has a succession plan.”
Despite the recent turmoil behind the scenes, which is the result of an internal power struggle between various factions that is still largely unresolved for the time being, Rushbrook said Red Bull was still its finest potential partner in Formula One.
“We at Ford look for the best teams to work with in order to achieve great things in motorsports. We think we’ve found Formula 1’s top team,” he continued.
It all boils down to collaboration, situation awareness, and a dedication to doing whatever it takes to succeed. That is still going on for both sides.”
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