Horner makes unusual Newey-Cristiano Ronaldo comparison

Christian Horner has compared Red Bull post-Adrian Newey to that of Manchester United after Cristiano Ronaldo departed. 

Red Bull chief technical officer Newey is leaving the role after 19 years, and will join Aston Martin as managing technical partner from March 1st, 2025, with Red Bull keen to play up the fact that it has a stable technical team in place to minimise the impact of Newey's departure. 

In describing the departure, Horner used the example of Manchester United being able to win a further two Premier League titles under Sir Alex Ferguson before his 2013 retirement after Ronaldo left for Real Madrid in 2009, having won three league titles and the '08 Champions League.

But the Coventry City fan at first referenced another iconic Old Trafford number 7 when making his comparison.

"We’ll look back with great fondness of the time that [Newey] was with us, but life carries on and we’ve got a great team," Horner told Sky Sports F1. 

"We’ve got great strength and depth. Manchester United didn’t stop winning when Eric Cantona left – everything has to evolve, and I think we have that strength and depth to pick and carry on that baton."

When it was pointed out to Horner that Cantona had actually retired in 1997 rather than joining another team, Horner replied: "Alright [then], Cristiano Ronaldo! I’m not a football analogy specialist.

"Adrian came very close to leaving in 2014, and from that moment onwards really we needed to ensure that, if he were to choose to depart, that we were in a position to pick up the mantle and the baton and run with it.

“Obviously he’s been involved in other projects during that period with [the Aston Martin] Valkyrie and now the RB17 [hypercar], so when he chose to go to Aston – to have skin in the game with the shareholding, from what I understand the whole structure is essentially going to report into him.

"He still feels he has that motivation, and all we can do is wish him the very best of luck."