Adrian Newey and Red Bull Racing will soon end their successful partnership after almost two decades.
During that time, the team has won six constructors' titles and seven drivers' championships and has established itself as the clear benchmark in the modern era of Formula 1.
However, the departure of Newey threatens to destabilise the strong form Red Bull has enjoyed over the last handful of years.
Speaking exclusively to RacingNews365, ex-racing driver Mike Hezemans reflected on the “loss” that Red Bull has suffered.
"It was to be expected that he would leave, after all the rumblings at the team due to the power struggle," Hezemans stated.
"I think it's a loss anyway. The man obviously has so much experience. I think that man is very good at indicating to people what they shouldn't do, rather than what they should do.
“He has so much experience and of course there are a lot of very good young people in aerodynamics. They may want to go in one direction, but Newey has so much experience that he says: 'Wait a minute, I tried to go in that direction 20 years ago, you shouldn't waste your time on that'. And I think that's a very important factor for any future team he goes to.”
Red Bull will not have Newey on board when it comes to constructing the 2026 car under a fresh set of regulations.
“I think that could be quite a loss,” Hezemans said of the situation. “Pierre Waché (technical director) is obviously very good. But it's a bit like Dietrich Mateschitz was at Red Bull and Jean Todt was at Ferrari, a protagonist is leaving.
“Red Bull will now play a bit of the game in the media that he might not bring as much now [to the team], but I still think he brings a lot."
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Next destination?
Hezemans weighed in on where Newey's next destination could be.
"I personally think he will go to Ferrari and then you will see that Ferrari will have a lot to gain from that. Even if it's just for the whole atmosphere and everything around him that everyone will do just a little bit better.
“And with Newey and Lewis Hamilton, then everybody starts saying: 'oh, wow, now Verstappen can start having a problem'. The whole feeling you bring with you then, that's really super important."
Despite that, Hezemans doesn't see Newey living in Italy.
"That's of course with all the English - those English never get off the island," Hezemans joked.
Indeed, there is speculation that Newey would work as a consultant at Ferrari, thus avoiding the need to move to Italy.
"He will be there a lot in the beginning anyway, I very much believe that. Newey will want to be there for weeks or months at Ferrari anyway.
"I think he very much wants it [a move to Ferrari],” Hezemans continued. “I think he once gave an interview, a few years ago, that it never came about and that it's actually a missed opportunity. In the end, every driver, or at least those who have also become world champions, would like to drive at Ferrari. And surely I also think that Newey eventually wants to go to Ferrari."
What role does Hamilton play in it all, now that the seven-time world champion will drive for the Scuderia in 2025?
"I think he is very keen to work with Lewis. Sure, 100 per cent for sure. I think he has a very good relationship with Max, but of course he would also be quite happy to beat Max with a Ferrari and with Lewis. Then I think the guy is also like: 'hey, look what I can do!'"
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