Horner reveals PLANS for…. Read more
Last year, Red Bull saw two major departures with Adrian Newey, the star designer, leaving for Aston Martin, and Jonathan Wheatley, the sporting director, moving to Audi. These departures marked a significant shift within the team and followed a turbulent period for Red Bull, which culminated in a dramatic drop in performance. After dominating the Formula 1 scene for years, Red Bull fell from being constructors’ champions to third place in the standings, behind McLaren and Ferrari.
Adrian Newey was an integral figure in Red Bull’s success, playing a pivotal role in securing six constructors’ championships and eight drivers’ titles over his 19-year tenure with the team. His work, particularly with drivers like Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, was instrumental in the team’s dominance in the sport. However, with his departure to Aston Martin, Red Bull now faces the challenge of continuing their success without his expertise. Despite this, Horner remains confident in the team’s ability to remain competitive in the upcoming seasons.
Addressing the departures, Horner insisted that the team had long been preparing for these changes. He pointed out that while Newey had already shifted his focus to the RB17 and was not working on any Formula 1 projects for the past year, his departure marked the end of an era but not a crisis for the team. Similarly, Wheatley’s move to Audi would see him step down from the pitwall in 2025, but Horner stressed that this would not disrupt Red Bull’s operations or ambitions.
In a statement to Autosport, Horner said that while the departures of Newey and Wheatley were significant, the team had planned for such changes. He noted that although it was sad to see both of them leave, Red Bull still had the depth and strength to continue pursuing success in Formula 1. He emphasized that the team was gearing up for 2026, which he described as the most ambitious and challenging project Red Bull had ever undertaken, with the development of their own power unit. Horner’s comments reflect the team’s commitment to adapting and evolving, rather than undergoing a drastic rebuilding process.
Regarding his own position, Horner also addressed recent speculation about his future at Red Bull. There had been internal scrutiny of his leadership following an investigation into his conduct, which ultimately cleared him of any wrongdoing. Additionally, Jos Verstappen, the father of Max Verstappen, had publicly called for Horner to step down. Despite these pressures, Horner remains confident in his role and in the team’s ability to compete at the highest level.
Horner concluded that while Red Bull would miss the contributions of Newey and Wheatley, the team was well-prepared for the changes. He firmly believes that Red Bull can return to the top of the standings and challenge for both drivers’ and constructors’ titles again, with the team’s long-term strategy focusing on the 2026 season and beyond. For now, the focus remains on maintaining momentum and building on the foundation laid by their past s
uccesses.
