Ferrari 'licking its wounds' after 'short-sighted' Newey failure

Nigel Mansell has blasted Ferrari for its "short-sighted" failure to sign Adrian Newey, and feels the team should be 'licking its wounds.'

After the news came of Newey's departure from Red Bull, he was heavily linked with a move to Ferrari, who last tried to sign him in 2014. 

But Ferrari baulked at Newey's salary demands, with the legendary designer ultimately joining Aston Martin as managing technical partner, and will start at the team on March 1st, 2025. 

Mansell delivered Newey his first taste of world championship glory with the dominant FW14B in 1992, but believes his former Ferrari team has made a major mistake in not signing Newey. 

"The fact that he’s gone to Aston Martin is so wise because he won’t get caught up in the politics of Ferrari and the hype that goes with that," Mansell told Top Offshore Sportsbooks.

"I think Ferrari should be licking their wounds a little bit because they should have got him, but all credit to Aston Martin. 

"As soon as I heard that Ferrari was baulking at possibly the wage bill that Adrian wanted, I think that was short-sighted of them.

"They lost an opportunity because whoever gets Adrian Newey is almost assured of having a fantastic few years."