Red Bull deliver ‘move forward’ plan after Newey exit

Red Bull technical director Pierre Waché has revealed that the team has a plan in place to "move forward", following the departure of Adrian Newey. 

Newey's exit from the Milton Keynes-based outfit was announced on May 1st this year, with his focus having switched to Red Bull's RB17 hypercar until he leaves the organisation in the first quarter of 2025. 

It means the F1 team has had to adjust to life without the chief technical officer, who designed all of Red Bull's title-winning cars. 

Moving on from Newey is no easy feat given his experience and brilliance, although action has already been taken by Red Bull.

“It’s a challenge in the company and it’s a shame that he’s leaving,” Waché told PlanetF1.

“But, at one point, we move forward alongside… as an engineering team, what you see from outside is one aspect but, on our side, we already know [when] people leave the team, we have already organised ourselves with our team.

“We would prefer him with us, but that is not how it is. We don’t think in this way, we try to see what you can do for yourself and how you can improve. If we see some weaknesses, we try to improve and this is how we work – we concentrate on what we can do better.”

No Waché 'frustration'

With Newey's reputation, it is easy to forget that Waché supported the designer in the creation of the RB19, which claimed 21 victories in 22 grands prix last season. 

Newey's name is often the one which is written about in the media for being behind Red Bull's cars, rather than Wache's, despite his involvement. 

This does not frustrate the Frenchman, who is unfazed by what is said in the media. 

“No, not at all. The frustration is not to win,” he replied.

“I don’t mind if the media says [something is] due to whomever – what is important is we know each individual in the team will participate to the system.

“Otherwise, it would be a team of one person, but that is not the case – we have more than 300 engineers in the system to develop and make our car quicker.

“Adrian was a big part of it but like every individual, and I think it is important for each individual that they are doing the best they can. With the media, I’m not working especially to be a star or whatever, I’m working because I like what I’m doing. I want to succeed and win, that is the main thing.”