Sergio Perez has claimed the Red Bull Formula 1 team remains in a “great place” to succeed despite technical legend Adrian Newey’s impending departure in 2025.
Following rumours, Red Bull announced earlier this week that Newey will cut short his near two-decade association with Red Bull in the opening quarter of next term.
But while Perez agrees that Newey’s absence is “not ideal”, the Mexican has emphasised his trust in the technical structure that the reigning champions have in place.
“Someone like Adrian has been tremendous to our team, to our organisation,” he said. “He’s a very good friend of mine as well in this time that we’ve spent together.
“But at the end of the day, there are times in life – I think he’s spent like 20 years at Red Bull – I think he probably wants to do something else.
“I think Red Bull is in a great place. It has a very good, very strong organisation with Pierre [Wache], with Enrico [Balbo], with Ben [Waterhouse].
“I think the whole aero group is very strong and we’re just looking forward to the future.
“You’ve seen in the past with these big teams, big names, when they leave, they will always succeed. It doesn’t matter.
“It’s not down to one single individual. It’s a whole organisation.
“I think Christian [Horner] has done a great job in preparing for the next generation of what’s going to happen to Red Bull.”
With Newey touted to be closing on a switch to Ferrari, Perez has admitted that whichever team earns his services will be well-poised to make immediate progress.
“I assume he will cause an immediate impact wherever he goes, whatever he does,” Perez added. “He’s a very clever guy, very hard worker.
“With Adrian, working with him, he’s much more than a designer. He can influence even strategies, set-up, he could have that influence on a race weekend.
“So to have him around on race weekends was great. He is obviously a very strong individual guy that wherever he goes, he will cause an immediate impact.”
Meanwhile, Newey leaving Red Bull has heightened speculation that Max Verstappen, who has been linked with a move to Mercedes, could become the next to exit.
However, Perez remains optimistic that the Briton’s phased departure will not prompt his current team-mate or other members of Red Bull to trigger a mass exodus.
“I think everyone is fully committed to the team, we’re having a tremendous season once again,” he said. “The future looks bright and clean.
“I think it’s normal that you have this sort of movement within some people. I think the organisation remains really strong and I don’t see any more changes in that regard.”
