Alonso delivers assertive verdict on Newey's Red Bull exit

Fernando Alonso has denied that Adrian Newey's exit from Red Bull means the team is imploding.

Despite its strong start to the season with four wins in six races, Red Bull has endured a difficult period relating to off-track matters.

Team principal Christian Horner was placed under investigation earlier this year after allegations were made by a female employee. After being cleared, he was publicly criticised by Jos Verstappen, father of driver Max, who asserted the team would be “torn apart” if Horner remained in his role.

It soon emerged that a power struggle was ongoing between the Thai and Austrian side of the company before Newey confirmed his departure.

When asked if the reigning world champions are imploding, Alonso told media including RacingNews365: “I don't think so.

"Obviously, they are dominating the sport since 2021 and when something outside the race weekend is happening, there is a lot of news generated by that team.

"They are the ones that everyone wants to beat and everyone wants to destabilise them in a way to make sure that you are able to beat them on track.

"If you lose your technical director or your designer in another team, it will be a little bit less news than if it happens on the winning team.

“But let’s see, what happens in the future. I think the most important thing for everyone is the 2026 regulations. Adrian made the most of the current regulations, the ones that started in 2022.

“The 2014 regulations [it] was Mercedes making the most of them. You never know what is going to happen in 2026. We want to be the Mercedes of 2014 or the Red Bull of 2022. A lot of teams are hoping for that.

'I always wanted to work with him'

Alonso heaped praise on Newey's F1 impact, admitting he always wished to work with the Briton.

"I always wanted to work with him, once in my life," Alonso said.

"I respect him a lot. I consider him the best probably of Formula 1 ever had, a legend of the sport, and I feel in a way privileged to drive alongside him in the paddock and obviously as a competitor.”

The feeling is mutual as Newey explained last year that not working with Alonso, as well as Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari, were emotional regrets from his career.

In the past, Alonso was in talks to join Red Bull - with the Spaniard revealing that Newey was central to the discussions.

“I was close a few times, I even spoke with him a few times. Some of the meetings in the past were not only with Christian and Helmut [Marko], some of them were actually with Adrian,” he said. 

“I always expressed my admiration to him and he always shared his respect also to me. Let’s see what he does in the future.”