Latest news with #Newey
TimesLIVE
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Verstappen a ‘pipe dream' until Aston build a better car, says Newey
Aston Martin's chances of signing Max Verstappen will be a "pipe dream" until they have a car good enough for Red Bull's four-times world champion, according to the team's design great Adrian Newey. Newey, whose cars have won many Formula One championships for three teams, joined Aston from Red Bull in March with speculation Verstappen might eventually link up with him again. Verstappen has won two of seven races this season and is third overall behind McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris while Aston Martin are seventh in the standings and far from the podium places. Double world champion Fernando Alonso, 43, has yet to score. In Monaco to attend a race for the first time since his move, Newey was asked the inevitable questions about Verstappen's future. "Max is clearly a phenomenal talent, and he's a supreme competitor and part of that means Max likes to break things down to a simple common equation," he told reporters. "That is, in this particular case, choosing the team he believes will deliver the fastest car. So if we're to ever attract Max, the first thing we have to do is make a fast car. "It's a pipe dream about anything else from there." The Briton said it had been easy to settle into his new surroundings and, while focused on next year's car, he had spent time assessing how the team worked and the strengths and weaknesses. He singled out the driver-in-the-loop simulator as requiring a lot of work, while the new wind tunnel was arguably the best in Formula One. "It (the simulator) is not correlating (to the track) at all at the moment, which is a fundamental research tool and not having that is a limitation," added Newey, who said fixing the simulator would probably take two years. Newey said Aston Martin, whose state-of-the-art Silverstone factory is on the old Jordan team site, had good people but needed them to settle down and work better together after a time of expansion. The designer said the 2026 rule change, the start of a new era for Formula One, offered "a reasonable amount of flexibility" and expected a range of different solutions. He said he was working at the factory "pretty much full-on". "My wife, she kind of says I go into a design trance," he said.
Daily Mirror
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Christian Horner hijacks live Sky Sports F1 interview to insult new rival
Adrian Newey quit his role as Red Bull's chief technical offer last year before joining Aston Martin, and he's made his first appearance in green ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix Red Bull boss Christian Horner joked that former colleague Adrian Newey looked like a 'giant bogey' during his first outing in Aston Martin colours. Newey, 66, began his new role as Aston Martin's managing technical partner earlier this year and was present at a race weekend for the first time in Monaco. The legendary engineer is tasked with turning the Silverstone-based team into one capable of winning titles. Newey's prestigious career has seen him design 12 championship-winning cars across his time at Williams, McLaren and more recently Red Bull. After spending 19 years spent working alongside Horner, he decided to leave his role as Red Bull's chief technical offer in May 2024. Aston Martin acquired his services, with billionaire owner Lawrence Stroll convincing him to come on board not only as an engineer but also as a shareholder. Newey has been working behind the scenes on their 2026 car ahead of a change of regulations in the new year, but after a dismal start to this season, he travelled to Monte Carlo to observe the team's practices ahead of the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday. His former boss, Horner, spoke to Sky Sports and the Red Bull team principal was asked about if he'd spoken to Newey in the paddock. "It's great to see, I haven't seen him in green yet, he looks like a giant bogey," Horner joked over footage of Newey in his green polo shirt. "It's great to see, he's a racer. "I don't think he's missed ever a race at this track, even going back to his gardening leave at McLaren but we'll catch up with him later, it's good to see him here." Newey sat down for a number of interviews in Monaco and confirmed Horner's worst fears: Aston Martin are hoping to sign world champion Max Verstappen from Red Bull. "Max is clearly a phenomenal talent," he acknowledged. Will Adrian Newey help turn Aston Martin into a title-winning team? Give us your prediction in the comments section. "And he's a supreme competitor. And part of that means that... Max likes to break things down to a simple equation, if you like, and that is, in his particular case, choosing the team that he believes can deliver the fastest car. "So if we're ever to attract Max, the first thing we have to do is make a fast car. There's no point really pipe-dreaming about anything beyond that." But Aston Martin have a long way to go after Newey admitted: "It's fair to say that some of our tools are weak. Particularly our driver-in-loop simulator. "Ours needs a lot of work because it's not correlating at all at the moment. It is a fundamental research tool so not having that is a limitation. But obviously we've got to work around it in the meantime, and then sort out a plan to get it where it needs to be. But that's probably a two-year project."
Daily Mirror
25-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Adrian Newey caught speaking his mind about Lance Stroll in Monaco GP appearance
Aston Martin hope Adrian Newey can design title winning cars for Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll in the coming years and the Brit insists the latter is better than many give him credit for Adrian Newey insists Lance Stroll gets "an unfairly bad rap" from his critics. The new Aston Martin car design chief leapt to the defence of the Canadian racer as he faced reporters at the first Formula 1 race weekend he has attended in person with his new team. Newey started work at Aston Martin in March, having joined from Red Bull in a high-profile switch last year. The 66-year-old has designed more than a dozen title-winning F1 cars and the Silverstone-based squad hope he can sprinkle some of that magic on them in the future. But for now he is still settling in. And his presence on the ground at the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend is a purely observational mission for Newey, giving him the chance to see how the team works trackside and getting used to his new surroundings. While in the principality, he has also spoken to the media and used the opportunity to speak highly of 26-year-old racer Stroll, who is the son of the team's billionaire owner Lawrence Stroll. "Lance, I think, has an unfairly bad rap," said Newey. "When you compare him against team-mates he's been up against – Checo [Sergio Perez], Nico Hulkenberg, Sebastian [Vettel] and now Fernando [Alonso] – then he's been right there. "Any driver who gets to Formula 1 is clearly very good, but I think Lance is much better than people give him credit for." Newey went on to make it clear he is also a huge fan of two-time F1 champion Alonso, who he is delighted to be working with having previously voiced his regret that they had never been allies on the grid. Newey added: "Fernando, he's such a cool character. He's been an enemy for many years, along with Lewis [Hamilton]. I think I've said before that you can only work with so many drivers. "But two drivers I always wanted – the brothers from the modern era that I felt I would enjoy working with – were Lewis and Fernando, and I couldn't work with both, so at least I've got one of them." Newey was referring to the choice that he was faced with after announcing that he was going to leave Red Bull. Retirement was a possibility but he quickly came to the conclusion that he had another project in him and there was no shortage of suitors interested in luring the celebrated designer. But the two front-runners were Aston Martin and Ferrari. Clearly, the former won that duel, despite a personal plea from Hamilton who publicly declared how much he wanted Newey to make the move with him to Italy.
Daily Mirror
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Adrian Newey breaks silence on 'phenomenal' Max Verstappen to Aston Martin
Present at the Monaco Grand Prix for his first appearance at an F1 race weekend as an Aston Martin employee, Adrian Newey has been speaking to reporters about Max Verstappen Adrian Newey has told his Aston Martin team that signing Max Verstappen remains a "pipe dream". The legendary Formula 1 designer believes the Dutchman would only be interested in leaving Red Bull for a team which can give him a championship-winning car. Aston Martin have ambitions of being one of the front-runners but remain a long way off right now. That is why billionaire owner Lawrence Stroll leapt at the chance to sign Newey after he announced his plan to leave Red Bull last year. Newey has been working almost exclusively on their 2026 car with the team clearly looking towards a brighter future. And speculation continues to persist that the story could include Verstappen as a major character, should the Dutchman decide to exercise his contract option to leave Red Bull early. Working with both Newey and also engine suppliers Honda from 2026, there are plenty of reasons why Aston might be able to tempt Verstappen to join them. But, speaking to reporters at the Monaco Grand Prix, Newey made it clear he doesn't expect it to happen soon. He said: "Max is clearly a phenomenal talent and a supreme competitor. Part of that means that Max likes to break things down to a single, common equation, and in this particular case, choosing the team that he believes will deliver the fastest car. So if we're ever to attract Max, the first thing we have to do is make a fast car." Newey went on to say he has "absolutely no idea" whether Aston Martin will be able to provide such a machine in 2026, adding: "Max, as I said, is a phenomenal driver, phenomenal competitor. It's just pipe dreaming about anything else from there." Newey spent many years designing F1 cars for Verstappen to drive. And they enjoyed a remarkable amount of success together, with the designer's fingerprints all over the cars the Dutchman drove as he won four-straight drivers' titles over the last four seasons. And while Verstappen is not the only remarkable talent Newey has worked with over the years, there are a couple who he said he regretted not having been an ally to. Lewis Hamilton remains someone the 66-year-old hasn't yet worked with, but he has now ticked off the other by joining Aston Martin. Speaking about their double champion driver Fernando Alonso, Newey said: "He's such a cool character. He's been an enemy for many years, along with Lewis. "I think I've said before that you can only work with so many drivers, but two drivers, in the relatively modern area, I felt I'd enjoy working with are Lewis and Fernando. I didn't work with both, so at least I got one of them."
Scottish Sun
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
‘The first thing we have to do' – Adrian Newey breaks silence on Max Verstappen joining Aston Martin rumours
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ADRIAN NEWEY says Aston Martin will have to make a fast car if they are to ever attract Max Verstappen. The design guru, 66, has shut down talk of the Dutchman joining Aston Martin any time soon from Red Bull. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Max Verstappen has been linked with a shock future move to Aston Martin Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 5 The Dutchman's contract with Red Bull expires in 2028 Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK 5 Adrian Newey believes Aston Martin would need to make a very fast car to ever land Verstappen Credit: ALAMY Newey sent shockwaves through F1 when he announced he was leaving Red Bull last season before committing his future to Aston in September. At the Monaco Grand Prix, he is making his first appearance in the paddock since his bombshell move. Newey said: 'Max is clearly a phenomenal talent and he's a supreme competitor. "So if we're to ever attract Max, the first thing we have to do is make a fast car. READ MORE F1 NORR BLIMEY Lando Norris lifts lid on luxury car collection with ultra-rare £2m Lamborghini "There's no point in pipe-dreaming about anything else for now." When pressed further about the timeline for this project, Newey said: "I've got absolutely no idea." There was huge speculation surrounding Verstappen's future last season after Red Bull's car struggled and Christian Horner's 'sexting scandal' threw the team into chaos. The Red Bull boss, who denied the accusations, was cleared of the allegations twice after a private, independent investigation. JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 5 Mercedes were tipped as the favourite destination with Toto Wolff publicly trying to tempt the four-time world champion. The current team is made up of world champion Fernando Alonso, 43, and Lance Stroll, the son of the team's owner, Lawrence Stroll. 10 Years of Max Verstappen documentary trailer Newey added: 'Lance, I think has an unfairly bad rap, "Any driver who gets to Formula One is clearly very good, but I think Lance is much better than people give him credit for. "Fernando is such a good character. He's been an enemy for many years, along with Lewis (Hamilton)." "Two drivers I've always, from the modern era, felt I would enjoy working with were Lewis and Fernando and I couldn't work with both so at least I got one of them." 5 Adrian Newey defected from Red Bull to Aston Martin in September Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK Newey has been laser-focused since March on designing the 2026 car under new regulations. He said: "My wife says I go into a design trance and I can understand what she means. "When I get into this sort of period of intense concentration, I tend to not see left and right. "All my processing power is going into one area which is trying to work with everyone to design a fast racing car."
