F1 Rumour: Adrian Newey To Leave Red Bull For Mercedes
Adrian Newey, the chief designer of Red Bull Racing, may have caught the attention of Mercedes, according to former Formula 1 champion Damon Hill. Hill speculated on a recent podcast that Newey might be considering a new challenge - and what a challenge it would be - and could switch teams after his current contract with Red Bull expires very soon.
As one of the most influential figures within the sport, let alone the Milton Keynes squad, Newey has made a name for himself as one of the most innovative aerodynamicists involved in motorsport. His designs have helped Red Bull win numerous constructors' and drivers' championships, making him one of the most successful car designers in the sport's history.
In fact, the talented engineer has won 11 constructor championships with three different teams, according to F1FAll.com, and isn't showing signs of stopping.
Hill lauded Newey's strong history of victory on the F1Nation Podcast, saying:
"His success rate is unbelievable. Every team he has been to, he has won a constructors' championship, drivers' titles, I've lost count [of] how many."
Hill also noted that during the Bahrain Grand Prix, Newey was spotted observing the Mercedes W14 and its front wings. While it's unclear what he was doing, Hill believes that this may have been a sign of Newey's interest in a new challenge with the Silver Arrows.
"So he is a key man, and what he has to offer any team is invaluable. I can't help ignoring this thing he did in Bahrain, where he stood in front of 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 has only got the most dominant car in Formula 1, why is he looking at Mercedes' front wing?'"
Hill joked:
"Anybody who knows Adrian will know 'wait a minute, he has only got the most dominant car in Formula 1, why is he looking at Mercedes' front wing?'"
If Newey were to join Mercedes, it could be a significant boost to the team's fortunes. After the 2021 F1 season, Mercedes struggled to compete for race wins let alone championships, particularly due to the new groud-effect centred technical regulations.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has acknowledged that it could take up to a year for the team to return to its former dominance. However, with Newey's skills and experience, Mercedes could potentially speed up their developmental curve and make significant gains on the track, especially with what Newey knows from the Red Bull team.
While there is no concrete evidence that Newey will join Mercedes, Hill's speculation has raised some eyebrows. If he were to switch teams, it could be a game-changer for the Brackley team, and it would be fascinating to see what he could do with the Silver Arrows. Until then, F1 fans can only wait and watch.