Outgoing Red Bull design guru Adrian Newey is reported to be deciding between Aston Martin and McLaren over his next team in Formula 1 with Ferrari not a choice.
Red Bull announced two months ago that Newey will be departing the team in 2025 to bring an end to a near two-decade spell that has contained 13 championships.
The Briton, 65, has suggested that he intends to remain involved in the sport past his Red Bull period and rumours have linked him with a long-awaited Ferrari switch.
But while some outlets claimed an agreement was in place over a ‘Super Consultant’ role, Motorsport Italy has reported that Newey doesn’t appear Maranello bound.
According to the Italian publication, Ferrari’s top brass held talks with Newey earlier this term over a potential move, but are now unwilling to engage in a bidding war.
Instead, Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur’s attention has turned towards filling the void that ex-Technical Director Enrico Cardile has made with a switch to Aston Martin.
Ferrari appearing to be ruled out could open the door to Aston Martin, who is known to have submitted a lucrative proposal to Newey and provided him a factory tour.
Aston Martin Executive Chairman Lawrence Stroll is eager to transform it into a title challenger and has invested seismic sums in a new state-of-the-art headquarters.
Meanwhile, the Canadian billionaire has also showcased a continued willingness to sign the best technical talent on the market to complement the updated facilities.
However, the Silverstone-based squad could have competition from McLaren, who are speculated to be operating more under the radar with its bid to acquire Newey.
Newey worked at McLaren between 1997 and 2005 and designed the cars that clinched both championships in 1998 and the MP4/14 that won the 1999 Drivers’ title.
But McLaren couldn’t replicate that success from the turn of the millennium amid Ferrari’s dominance, as Newey became disenchanted with its regimented structure.
However, Ron Dennis has long since departed, and McLaren has recovered from a period in the wilderness to emerge as a competitive outfit in the sport once again.
The Woking-based squad’s remarkable turnaround has been indebted to Team Principal Andrea Stella, who CEO Zak Brown appointed to the helm in December 2022.
Despite the team struggling to even score points in the nascent races of Stella’s tenure, McLaren’s mid-season upgrades propelled it into a position to land podiums.
McLaren has maintained that momentum into the current season, with the team landing nine podiums and a breakthrough win in Miami across the opening 12 races.
Motorsport Italy has documented that a return to McLaren to conclude his F1 career could transpire as a “surprise end” to a saga which will continue until September.
Red Bull agreed with Newey upon finalising the terms that would determine his impending exit that no announcement on his prospects would be made until that date.
