Adrian Newey to Ferrari? Is it possible?
Discussion
Jordie Barretts sock said:
ERIKM400 said:
Question that just popped up in my head.
How much could Hamilton's decision to switch to Ferrari have been influenced by him knowing about, supecting, guessing or gambling on Newey moving from Red Bull to Ferrari?
I would imagine it was the other way around? Newey wants to work with the Prancing Horse and Lewis?How much could Hamilton's decision to switch to Ferrari have been influenced by him knowing about, supecting, guessing or gambling on Newey moving from Red Bull to Ferrari?
Although God knows if he could break through the established design chiefs at Ferrari and effect real change -he might find he's up against a brick wall of 'no no no' if he goes there...
RichB said:
TheDeuce said:
<clip> God knows if he could break through the established design chiefs at Ferrari and effect real change -he might find he's up against a brick wall of 'no no no' if he goes there...
Why? 
https://www.boatinternational.com/yachts/news/form...
Seems his new yacht is designed to go around the world...
Seems his new yacht is designed to go around the world...
ZX10R NIN said:
He may just retire, if he's really unhappy & wants to leave, he won't be able to join a team until 2027 or at best mid season 2026.
Based on something you know, or your assumption that he's signed a contract that ties him to RBR only for multiple seasons - even though he's worth more to them than vice versa and would have no reason to limit his future career for the sake of his most recent contract..Newey goes, taking advantage of clauses in his contract made relevant by Horner’s behaviour. Despite Wolff’s best efforts he heads to Modena.
Verstappen leaves immediately and goes to Mercedes due to clauses in his contract activated by Newey’s departure.
Sainz replaces Verstappen and wins the 2025 drivers championship. Leclerc finds Hamilton a handful and is not happy.
The Red Bull Powertrains PU is a dog and RB find themselves scrapping for points in 2026. Without Cowell, the Merc PU isn’t much better. Jos and Toto occupy opposite ends of pit garages and glare at each other.
The Ferrari PU is a rocket, Newey works his magic and Hamilton wins the next three WC’s whilst Leclerc wonders where it all went wrong.
Verstappen leaves immediately and goes to Mercedes due to clauses in his contract activated by Newey’s departure.
Sainz replaces Verstappen and wins the 2025 drivers championship. Leclerc finds Hamilton a handful and is not happy.
The Red Bull Powertrains PU is a dog and RB find themselves scrapping for points in 2026. Without Cowell, the Merc PU isn’t much better. Jos and Toto occupy opposite ends of pit garages and glare at each other.
The Ferrari PU is a rocket, Newey works his magic and Hamilton wins the next three WC’s whilst Leclerc wonders where it all went wrong.
Leithen said:
Newey goes, taking advantage of clauses in his contract made relevant by Horner’s behaviour. Despite Wolff’s best efforts he heads to Modena.
Verstappen leaves immediately and goes to Mercedes due to clauses in his contract activated by Newey’s departure.
Sainz replaces Verstappen and wins the 2025 drivers championship. Leclerc finds Hamilton a handful and is not happy.
The Red Bull Powertrains PU is a dog and RB find themselves scrapping for points in 2026. Without Cowell, the Merc PU isn’t much better. Jos and Toto occupy opposite ends of pit garages and glare at each other.
The Ferrari PU is a rocket, Newey works his magic and Hamilton wins the next three WC’s whilst Leclerc wonders where it all went wrong.
Love it!Verstappen leaves immediately and goes to Mercedes due to clauses in his contract activated by Newey’s departure.
Sainz replaces Verstappen and wins the 2025 drivers championship. Leclerc finds Hamilton a handful and is not happy.
The Red Bull Powertrains PU is a dog and RB find themselves scrapping for points in 2026. Without Cowell, the Merc PU isn’t much better. Jos and Toto occupy opposite ends of pit garages and glare at each other.
The Ferrari PU is a rocket, Newey works his magic and Hamilton wins the next three WC’s whilst Leclerc wonders where it all went wrong.
TheDeuce said:
Based on something you know, or your assumption that he's signed a contract that ties him to RBR only for multiple seasons - even though he's worth more to them than vice versa and would have no reason to limit his future career for the sake of his most recent contract..
As far as I'm aware he's contracted until the end of 2025, with a years gardening leave thereafter.That means he would not be able to work for anyone else until 2027 at best RB may let him have 6-9 months leave but why would they.
The most recent example I can find of Red Bull and senior leavers is Dan Fallows to Aston in 2001/2. Fallows was taken to the High Court by Red Bull and there wasna preliminary hearing regards disclosure.
What came from it was that Red Bull have generally let senior leavers go on a case by case basis by negotiation. That's what happened with Fallows, as his case was settled before going to trial in early 2022 and he joined Aston Martin early. It would only be conjecture but I suspect Aston paid a sum to make it happen. The other reason it might settle before trial is that if it went against Red Bull, I imagine most of their senior people had similar contracts and would've discovered they weren't as restricted as they'd thought. It would make sense for Red Bull to avoid risking the court confirming staff could leave more easily than they thought.
With Newey, the issue is more complex, because he's a 'one-off'. Not just at Red Bull, but in the sport more generally. What he knows not only about the card but the strengths and weaknesses of Red Bull more generally, is invaluable to competitors and potentially very harmful to Red Bull. The difference between 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the Constructors' is 10s of millions of dollars. It's easy to see why money alone wouldn't be enough to release Newey early, if doing so risked your future performance and prize money (bearing in mind also your sponsorship potential is less potent if you no longer have the P1 WDC/WCC).
I'd guess at a sabbatical unless someone can offer enough cash to turn heads or the Thai owners decide Newey has done enough for them over the past couple of decades that he's earned the move.
What came from it was that Red Bull have generally let senior leavers go on a case by case basis by negotiation. That's what happened with Fallows, as his case was settled before going to trial in early 2022 and he joined Aston Martin early. It would only be conjecture but I suspect Aston paid a sum to make it happen. The other reason it might settle before trial is that if it went against Red Bull, I imagine most of their senior people had similar contracts and would've discovered they weren't as restricted as they'd thought. It would make sense for Red Bull to avoid risking the court confirming staff could leave more easily than they thought.
With Newey, the issue is more complex, because he's a 'one-off'. Not just at Red Bull, but in the sport more generally. What he knows not only about the card but the strengths and weaknesses of Red Bull more generally, is invaluable to competitors and potentially very harmful to Red Bull. The difference between 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the Constructors' is 10s of millions of dollars. It's easy to see why money alone wouldn't be enough to release Newey early, if doing so risked your future performance and prize money (bearing in mind also your sponsorship potential is less potent if you no longer have the P1 WDC/WCC).
I'd guess at a sabbatical unless someone can offer enough cash to turn heads or the Thai owners decide Newey has done enough for them over the past couple of decades that he's earned the move.
OK, so here is my theory based on as many facts as any other and fuelled by too much Saturday afternoon drinking so be gentle
The RB Thai contingent are taking Horner and Newey and buying Williams off Dorilton. Williams turn up with a rocketship in 2026 and Sargeant is 2026 WDC. OK, that last bit was a stretch too far
Imagine what the F1 record books would look like if Frank and Patrick had stopped being Frank and Patrick for just 5 minutes and had given Adrian the equity in Williams that he was after all those years ago.
The RB Thai contingent are taking Horner and Newey and buying Williams off Dorilton. Williams turn up with a rocketship in 2026 and Sargeant is 2026 WDC. OK, that last bit was a stretch too far
Imagine what the F1 record books would look like if Frank and Patrick had stopped being Frank and Patrick for just 5 minutes and had given Adrian the equity in Williams that he was after all those years ago.
ZX10R NIN said:
TheDeuce said:
Based on something you know, or your assumption that he's signed a contract that ties him to RBR only for multiple seasons - even though he's worth more to them than vice versa and would have no reason to limit his future career for the sake of his most recent contract..
As far as I'm aware he's contracted until the end of 2025, with a years gardening leave thereafter.That means he would not be able to work for anyone else until 2027 at best RB may let him have 6-9 months leave but why would they.
.
Everyone seems to be forgetting that more than almost anyone at RB, Newey will know of all the skeletons in all the cupboards. There is no way that RB will let Newey get anywhere near a court.
It'll just be a heated and tense negotiation involving tens of millions of pounds and some very, very expensive lawyers will cash in nicely.
It'll just be a heated and tense negotiation involving tens of millions of pounds and some very, very expensive lawyers will cash in nicely.
Wills2 said:
ZX10R NIN said:
TheDeuce said:
Based on something you know, or your assumption that he's signed a contract that ties him to RBR only for multiple seasons - even though he's worth more to them than vice versa and would have no reason to limit his future career for the sake of his most recent contract..
As far as I'm aware he's contracted until the end of 2025, with a years gardening leave thereafter.That means he would not be able to work for anyone else until 2027 at best RB may let him have 6-9 months leave but why would they.
.
Although if it is common knowledge he's contracted until 2025 then that but may well be true... But also irrelevant as we have no way of knowing the cost of breaking that contract, or the break clauses in place.
Makes the most sense to discuss what actually happens, not what might have been agreed.
Leithen said:
Newey goes, taking advantage of clauses in his contract made relevant by Horner’s behaviour. Despite Wolff’s best efforts he heads to Modena.
Verstappen leaves immediately and goes to Mercedes due to clauses in his contract activated by Newey’s departure.
Sainz replaces Verstappen and wins the 2025 drivers championship. Leclerc finds Hamilton a handful and is not happy.
The Red Bull Powertrains PU is a dog and RB find themselves scrapping for points in 2026. Without Cowell, the Merc PU isn’t much better. Jos and Toto occupy opposite ends of pit garages and glare at each other.
The Ferrari PU is a rocket, Newey works his magic and Hamilton wins the next three WC’s whilst Leclerc wonders where it all went wrong.
I am IN. I have a feeling that the 26 RB is going to be uncompetitive in any case, due to the engine. Verstappen leaves immediately and goes to Mercedes due to clauses in his contract activated by Newey’s departure.
Sainz replaces Verstappen and wins the 2025 drivers championship. Leclerc finds Hamilton a handful and is not happy.
The Red Bull Powertrains PU is a dog and RB find themselves scrapping for points in 2026. Without Cowell, the Merc PU isn’t much better. Jos and Toto occupy opposite ends of pit garages and glare at each other.
The Ferrari PU is a rocket, Newey works his magic and Hamilton wins the next three WC’s whilst Leclerc wonders where it all went wrong.
All this has reignited my interest in F1 to a mighty extent. Not so much for the 2024 season though.
Wills2 said:
Or in other words you're just making assumptions based upon what you have read in the media and have no idea what the contract does or doesn't say, which is fine but please don't try and dress it up any other way.
.
At what point did I say I know what's in his contract?.
Redbull are saying he's contracted until the end of 2025.
As seems to be standard that there's a lengthy period of garden leave.
Show me where I dressed anything up?
TheDeuce said:
RichB said:
TheDeuce said:
<clip> God knows if he could break through the established design chiefs at Ferrari and effect real change -he might find he's up against a brick wall of 'no no no' if he goes there...
Why? 
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