Christian Horner has denied that Adrian Newey is soon set to depart the Red Bull Formula 1 team.
Newey has worked with the energy drink-backed squad since 2006 and has constructed multiple World Championship-winning cars.
The Briton is widely regarded as one of the greatest car designers in the history of the sport, meaning a potential departure would be a huge loss for Red Bull.
The team dominated the 2022 campaign and looks to be on course for a similar campaign in 2023 after winning the opening three grands prix.
Speaking to the F1 Nation podcast ahead of the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix, 1996 F1 World Champion Damon Hill suggested that Newey could soon look to leave Red Bull.
“I can’t help ignoring this thing he did in Bahrain, where he stood in front of the Mercedes on the grid, with his clipboard, and stood there for a long time looking at their front wings.
“Anybody who knows Adrian will know ‘wait a minute, he’s already got the most dominant car in F1, why’s he looking at the Mercedes’ front wings?’
“Was he really looking at the front wings? Or was he just standing in front of a Mercedes saying: ‘I’m interested’. Is that what he was really saying?”
But Horner denies that this is the case.
“His heart is still very much in Formula 1 and his commitment to the team is, it’s not something…” Horner told Sky Sports News.
“We don’t talk about contracts or longevity of contracts, but he’ll be here for many years to come.
“There’s always going to be rumours in this paddock, that’s Formula 1.
“He’s such an important part of our team and popular part of our team.
“It’s great to have him with us for the long term, but also to be involved in some of the things we’re now getting involved in.”
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