Following the confirmation that Adrian Newey will depart Red Bull after a 19-year relationship in the early stages of 2025, attention has turned as to where he will find himself next.
Several F1 teams are chasing the chief technical officer's signature but according to Italian media, Ferrari is in pole position to sign argubaly the greatest F1 designer of all-time.
Former F1 engine engineer Ernest Knoors, worked in Maranello and does envisage Newey making a landmark move to Maranello.
"I'm a bit biased in that. Look, ultimately Formula 1 is the pinnacle. But within F1, if you then take on one last challenge and you go purely for the emotion, I think Ferrari is actually the right end station," Knoors told RacingNews365 in an exclusive interview.
"Ferrari is a team that has a huge tradition, a huge passion and hasn't won for a very long time."
Knoors is referring to the Scuderia's long drought. The team last won a constructors' title in 2008, and Kimi Räikkönen is still Ferrari's last champion in the drivers' standings.
The Finn became world champion in 2007, after which Ferrari did come close to the title several more times. Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel, among others, competed for the title on behalf of the Scuderia, but ultimately had to let it pass them by.
'Last dance'
It would therefore make sense, according to Knoors, if Newey chose to spend his final years in F1 in Italy.
"If, as a design legend, you want to do one more 'last dance' and you can lead Ferrari to a drivers' or constructors' title, yes, that would be a tremendous conclusion to your career," added Knoors.
For Knoors, Newey is no stranger. The former Ferrari and BMW engineer was often on the grid with the top designer. At the time, of course, as rivals, but also as lovers of the sport.
Knoors therefore thinks that the passion for the sport could play a major role in the choice. He continued: "If I know Newey a little bit, that is something that does attract him tremendously. Has to be added, though. If he goes to Ferrari, he lives in England, works in England.
"At Aston Martin he could very well stay in England and at Mercedes too. So that could possibly play a role as well. But if I have to put my money on it, we'll soon see him behind a nice plate of pasta in Maranello."
In closing, Knoors adds another important point: Ferrari's decisiveness in recent weeks. According to the former engineer, that is something that could win Newey over.
"At the end of the day, it is something that attracts every engineer," explained Knoors. "To work for Ferrari once in your life. And certainly if you can be decisive there. I think Ferrari is very clear about where their ambition lies, because they also got Hamilton.
"With Fred Vasseur they are making good strides. If he has the ambition to win another world championship with a fourth team, that is a very good e option. It would be a nice ending to his career, though."
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