Adrian Newey to Ferrari? Is it possible?

[TheDeuce]

Leithen said:

thegreenhell said:

The BBC says - "But his lawyers are securing an early exit and he will be free to start work from next year, high-level sources close to Red Bull and Newey have said."

Which makes sense if he wants to work rather than retire.

I suspect he, or his legal team, will successfully argue that the unconscionable actions towards his PA have placed him in an impossible position, and left any contract clauses untenable.

Actually thinking about it... If RBR fight to apply the terms of the contract then that would dig up a load more terrible PR as Newey would have to go on record detailing what he's seen/heard that has made him feel he has to leave. It's quite possible RBR won't want to have that fight at all, even if they thought they could win it.

And whatever happens in terms of legal wrangling, Ferrari will have a blank cheque to make it all go away.

It's very hard to imagine RBR actually being effective at preventing him working for a competitor if he wishes too, and the competitot really wants to have him.

[Derek Smith]

I don't want him to do his magic at Ferrari and give LH a car that makes him unbeatable. Out of the frying pan sort of thing.

If he went to Williams, that'd be great fun.

[Still Mulling]

Or McLaren, Derek?

[TheDeuce]

Derek Smith said:

I don't want him to do his magic at Ferrari and give LH a car that makes him unbeatable. Out of the frying pan sort of thing.

If he went to Williams, that'd be great fun.

He's highly unlikely to get Ferrari into that sort of position straight away, the most likely scenario for the first couple of years would be his concept at RB remaining in place and effective, and his influence at Ferrari bringing their car into contention with the RBR.

I think that's a great possibility to drool over. RBR Vs Ferrari both with cars with Newey DNA.

I'm aware we're talking 2026 onwards so a new regs era, but by the looks of it a lot of the current cars design and experience will transfer into the new era very easily, it's more the PU changes which are significant.

[isaldiri]

Sandpit Steve said:

He’s normally seen wearing a blue shirt at the races, that was my joke.

Ferrari have said they’ll be dressed in blue this weekend, celebrating their new HP sponsorship.

One might be reading too much into the blue thing but it’s reasonably well known Newey likes the colour. In his book or in an earlier interview, he did mention he had his office while at Mclaren done in blue which freaked Ron Dennis out as he was adamant about the whole MTC being grey I believe….

[paulguitar]

isaldiri said:

One might be reading too much into the blue thing but it’s reasonably well known Newey likes the colour. In his book or in an earlier interview, he did mention he had his office while at Mclaren done in blue which freaked Ron Dennis out as he was adamant about the whole MTC being grey I believe….

That scene in the book was very funny. Ron almost had a breakdown.

[stevilo]

BBC now reporting that Red Bull will make an announcement confirming he is to leave, on Thursday after Senna's anniversary.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/c84z8qklqvzo

[suffolk009]

paulguitar said:

isaldiri said:

One might be reading too much into the blue thing but it’s reasonably well known Newey likes the colour. In his book or in an earlier interview, he did mention he had his office while at Mclaren done in blue which freaked Ron Dennis out as he was adamant about the whole MTC being grey I believe….

That scene in the book was very funny. Ron almost had a breakdown.

IIRC duck egg blue.

I think the Ferrari blue is to "celebrate" HP coming onboard as a sponsor.

[Blib]

stevilo said:

BBC now reporting that Red Bull will make an announcement confirming he is to leave, on Thursday after Senna's anniversary.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/c84z8qklqvzo

That report states that he will start work with another team 'in early 2025'.

He knows where all of the embarrassing bodies are buried. He has them over a barrel.



ETA.

Toto Wolff said:

I’m just looking at it like a fan and watching that space.

Edited by Blib on Wednesday 1st May 07:24

[TheDeuce]

stevilo said:

BBC now reporting that Red Bull will make an announcement confirming he is to leave, on Thursday after Senna's anniversary.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/c84z8qklqvzo

I actually trust their sources "senior figures close to..." On this occasion as the press seems to have known about this but not been able to jump the gun by stating his departure ahead of him giving the nod for quite some time now.

I get the distinct impression the motoring press know a lot more detail than they're able to share so far, about the general situation at RBR.

[Still Mulling]

TheDeuce said:

I actually trust their sources "senior figures close to..." On this occasion as the press seems to have known about this but not been able to jump the gun by stating his departure ahead of him giving the nod for quite some time now.

I get the distinct impression the motoring press know a lot more detail than they're able to share so far, about the general situation at RBR.

I agree. It'd be fascinating to know just how binding any NDAs are, and thus what may come out in future autobiographies.

[AceRockatansky]

DanielSan said:

Sky reporting a couple of his reasons for leaving are being fed up with the power struggle going on at Red Bull and also not being a fan of the 'netflix' era of F1 and all the commercial stuff going on now. Maybe that yacht he's had built for going round the world is going to set sail next year...

I'm not a fan of wokeflix, but there's no denying it's brought F1 to a wider audience and the sport does actually need fans. The more access the fans get, the better. Dinosaurs don't like change, maybe Newey's exit isn't a bad thing.

[paulguitar]

AceRockatansky said:

wokeflix

[Forester1965]

AceRockatansky said:

I'm not a fan of wokeflix, but there's no denying it's brought F1 to a wider audience

Yep. A third of F1 fans have been following the sport for fewer than 4 years.

[TheDeuce]

Forester1965 said:

AceRockatansky said:

I'm not a fan of wokeflix, but there's no denying it's brought F1 to a wider audience

Yep. A third of F1 fans have been following the sport for fewer than 4 years.

Yet still know more than Croft.

[Sandpit Steve]

Still Mulling said:

I agree. It'd be fascinating to know just how binding any NDAs are, and thus what may come out in future autobiographies.

There’s very little that could be covered by an NDA in practice, rather than in theory. Drawings of current-year cars, for example, which the team might consider copyright infringement. When you found about about the CEO boffing the PA, not so much. It’s not as if we are talking about issues of national security here.

Truth is a defence against libel, and any stories that someone alleges to be untrue and defamatory would have to be tested in a very public court case. I might be careful about my comments regarding the ultimate Red Bull company shareholders, who are pretty private and have very deep pockets - but anyone else would easily be fair game.

[Mark-C]

paulguitar said:

AceRockatansky said:

wokeflix

Yeah - that was weird!

Newey needs to get to Ferrari early enough to drive the whole ethos of the 2026 car (if that's where he's going). No point worrying about next year's car ...

And Ferrari need to understand that spending a fortune on Newey and Hamilton is pointless if they are not going to do something about their race weekend strategy capabilities.

[Forester1965]

Sandpit Steve said:

There’s very little that could be covered by an NDA in practice, rather than in theory. Drawings of current-year cars, for example, which the team might consider copyright infringement. When you found about about the CEO boffing the PA, not so much. It’s not as if we are talking about issues of national security here.

Truth is a defence against libel, and any stories that someone alleges to be untrue and defamatory would have to be tested in a very public court case. I might be careful about my comments regarding the ultimate Red Bull company shareholders, who are pretty private and have very deep pockets - but anyone else would easily be fair game.

An NDA can cover any number of scenarios, including a prohibition on disclosing its existence. A breach wouldn't rely on an action in defamation.

I'm not sure where you got "there's very little that could be covered by an NDA in practice", but it wasn't reality.

[Dr Murdoch]

paulguitar said:

AceRockatansky said:

wokeflix

One for the Cringe thread

[Sandpit Steve]

Forester1965 said:

Sandpit Steve said:

There’s very little that could be covered by an NDA in practice, rather than in theory. Drawings of current-year cars, for example, which the team might consider copyright infringement. When you found about about the CEO boffing the PA, not so much. It’s not as if we are talking about issues of national security here.

Truth is a defence against libel, and any stories that someone alleges to be untrue and defamatory would have to be tested in a very public court case. I might be careful about my comments regarding the ultimate Red Bull company shareholders, who are pretty private and have very deep pockets - but anyone else would easily be fair game.

An NDA can cover any number of scenarios, including a prohibition on disclosing its existence. A breach wouldn't rely on an action in defamation.

I'm not sure where you got "there's very little that could be covered by an NDA in practice", but it wasn't reality.

I said “In practice, rather than in theory”.

In theory, they can ask him to sign anything, but it would then up to a court to determine what is reasonable. Trade secrets are reasonable to protect, office politics less so.