Max Verstappen is not “surprised” Red Bull gave Formula 1 designer Adrian Newey an earlier release from his contract as it would have been “unfair” to do otherwise.
Red Bull announced last week that Newey had communicated his intention to leave the team which he has helped to clinch seven Drivers and six Constructors’ titles.
Despite Newey being under contract through 2025, Red Bull’s statement revealed that the Briton, 65, would be permitted to exit during the first quarter of next season.
Newey will therefore be entitled to move to a rival team at that stage and become involved in work on the next-generation F1 cars that are scheduled to come in 2026.
But Verstappen admitted that he was not concerned Red Bull had allowed that scenario to be possible, citing the team owed Newey for the success he had delivered.
“I am not surprised because we respect him a lot, and we will always be very thankful what he has done for the team over all these years,” Verstappen said in Miami.
“I am not talking for Christian [Horner, Red Bull Team Principal] or whatever, because I know he has to discuss that with Christian, about how the release terms and stuff are done, but I am not surprised because in a way it would be also a little bit unfair to put him on gardening leave for a long time, just thinking back on what he has done for the team.
“There is this mutual respect between the two parties.”
Newey is thought to have turned down a proposal from Aston Martin, while Williams boss James Vowles divulged he’s held tentative discussions with his compatriot.
However, Newey’s most probable destination should he opt to continue in F1 is rumoured to be Ferrari, which has failed on three previous occasions to lure the genius.
Verstappen has conceded that the Maranello-based squad would stand to gain a considerable amount from Newey’s expertise with new technical rules on the horizon.
Asked whether it was cause trouble to Red Bull in the circumstance where Newey signs for a competitor, Verstappen answered: “I don’t know.
“I think always, when a person like Adrian, with his experience and also the knowledge that he has from our team, it should be an advantage but then on the other hand, in ’26 again, everything is very, very new, very different to how the cars are now.
“Before he would potentially join another team is in ’25, then normally the cars are already designed for the next year.
“So that is again, something that is… it’s something that you don’t know, how much of influence he can have.
“But for sure, with new regulations, if he would go somewhere else, with his knowledge, he can bring a lot to a team.”
