Former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan has confirmed that Adrian Newey has entered a period of gardening leave from Red Bull ahead of his switch to Aston Martin.
The Silverstone-based team confirmed Newey will join the team on March 1, 2025, with the renowned car designer bringing an end to his long association with Red Bull.
The announcement was conducted through a recent celebration at Silverstone by Aston Martin, which was criticised by Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, who labelled it as “premature”.
But Jordan, who helped negotiate Newey's exit from Red Bull, has confirmed the 65-year-old is no longer collaborating with the F1 team.
“You did not hear a peep from me until the 6th of September, and that was the date given by Red Bull as to when we could or couldn't say anything,” Jordan told the Formula For Success podcast.
“I have nothing but admiration for Adrian because he never said a peep until the date that we were allowed by Red Bull to make any comment.
“Adrian is not there. He's on gardening leave. He has a date in his contract, which was stipulated by me and Red Bull, of the 6th of September. That was adhered to in every single way.
“I can promise you that I don't know anybody who breached that. So the best of care was made to respect that, and Adrian was fastidious about this.”
Newey exit 'finest thing' Jordan has done
Jordan, who negotiated with many major parties during his association with F1, signalled his work with Newey is among his finest work.
“My belief is that, and I must say this beyond any doubt - I wasn't maybe going to say this - but I would say that the arranging of the Adrian Newey release from Red Bull was, for me, probably one of the greatest professional cool things that I've ever done,” he said.
“It is possibly the finest thing that I've ever done. And the reason I say that is because it was arranged and coordinated in such an elegant way that I feel very proud about.
“I feel very proud about Red Bull. I feel very proud about myself and my actions there, and I feel incredibly proud about Adrian and how he managed that situation.”
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