Newey set for sensational Ferrari move - report

Gardening leave

Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur flew to London earlier this week to meet Adrian Newey to discuss the final details of a contract, according to Italian media.

Red Bull confirmed on Wednesday morning that Newey will leave the Milton Keynes-based side, which has won all its races using cars designed by the Briton.

According to Gazzetta, Newey is edging closer to a move to Ferrari as Vasseur did not fly with the Maranello-based team to Miami on Tuesday for this weekend's Miami Grand Prix but instead opted to travel to London to engage in talks with Newey.

Last year, Newey admitted that not working with Ferrari, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso were “emotional regrets” he had regarding his career.

However, the 65-year-old has the opportunity to tick two of those boxes if he opts to join Ferrari with Lewis Hamilton penning a multi-year deal with the squad from 2025.

Gazzetta has reported that an announcement regarding Newey and Ferrari could be made after the Miami Grand Prix.

RacingNews365 understands that Newey is set to officially depart around February or March next year, with Red Bull confirming in its announcement that he will not leave the company until the first quarter of next year.

However, should Newey sign a contract with a rival team before, he would be placed on a period of gardening leave.

Any deal signed afterwards would not involve any such obligation, meaning he would be eligible to start work at a new team immediately after departing Red Bull.

Newey will immediately step back from Red Bull's F1 operations and instead focus on the company's upcoming RB17 Hypercar, although he will make some paddock appearances in a supporting role during the remainder of the year.