Having recently announced plans to develop their own powertrain from 2022 onwards, former F1 engineer and designer Gary Anderson is speculating whether Adrian Newey could be the perfect man to head such a project when engine regulations change in 2025. Newey is one of the most gifted designers Formula 1 has ever seen - which could give Red Bull a natural advantage if the team chooses to develop its own engines from 2025 onwards. “Newey and the others who will be involved in this project – and I’d be looking to bring in ex-Mercedes engine boss Andy Cowell – would be able to contribute directly to the new power unit specification,” Anderson wrote for The Race. Synergy and cooperation between the chassis and engine departments is crucial for success in Formula 1, with Mercedes’ success testament to how far it can take a team. Red Bull, meanwhile, have endured a turbulent decade working alongside Renault - and more recently Honda, in order to try and find an effective powertrain provider that suits their car. The Japanese firm’s decision to pull out of the sport at the end of 2021 left Christian Horner with a dilemma on his hands. The solution was for Red Bull to effectively take over Honda’s development of the powertrain, only this time, under their direct supervision. However, for Anderson, this doesn’t merely need to be a temporary solution until a reputable engine manufacturer comes along. On the contrary, the former Jordan designer has claimed that Newey could be the perfect man to spearhead the next-generation Red Bull engine project. "We all know how Adrian focuses on getting a size-12 foot into a size-10 shoe, so the packaging of a Red Bull engine would be no different. "A well-funded Red Bull engine project for the next-generation power unit with a revitalised Newey is a combination that F1 would have to take very seriously," the former BBC pundit continued. For the time being, Horner is keeping his options open, especially with regard to finding a long-term engine provider. But according to Anderson, the answer to Red Bull’s dilemma might be right under their noses, as a re-energised Newey could make Red Bull a force to be reckoned with.
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