Breaking: Red Bull formally announce Newey departure

Red Bull Racing has officially announced the departure of long-serving Chief Technical Officer Adrian Newey.

Newey will step back from design duties and focus on Red Bull's RB17 hypercar until the completion of the project before departing the organisation entirely in the first quarter of 2025.

Reports emerged last week that Newey had elected to leave the team he joined in 2006 having reportedly grown uncomfortable at the way the investigation and saga into team boss Christian Horner played out at the start of the 2024 season, for which the grievance was dismissed.

Newey's contract with Red Bull was due to run until the end of the 2025 season, but RacingNews365 understands there is a mechanism in his contract to allow him to freely negotiate with other teams for next season.

The Briton will continue to attend specific races this season ahead of his formal exit.

Newey's accolades in F1 include winning 13 Constructors' and 12 Drivers' championships, with several of those coming with Red Bull.

He oversaw the development of the RB19 in 2023 which out 21 out of the 22 races staged - beating the new win percentage record held by McLaren since 1988.

Newey's next move is not yet known, but he has long been the subject of admiration from Ferrari, who last tried to sign him in 2014.

The team is known to be courting Newey's services, as are Aston Martin, who made a big-money offer for Newey's services in March.

There is no indication yet as to where Newey could be heading, although a lengthy period of gardening leave for a senior technical figure, such as the CTO, will be expected.