It appears that the Ferrari-Newey negotiation has stalled: the Englishman wants to stay in his homeland and finish his F1 career there.
The world of Formula 1 has been abuzz for months about the future of Adrian Newey, the British engineer considered one of the greatest talents in motorsport. However, as reported this morning by Roberto Chinchero, despite high hopes in recent weeks of seeing Newey arrive at Maranello, it seems the English genius prefers to stay in Great Britain, selecting offers from British teams like Aston Martin and McLaren. However, due to contractual commitments with Red Bull and a particular clause in his contract, the final decision cannot be made official before the end of September.
The path to bringing Adrian Newey to Ferrari has proven more difficult than expected. Recent rumors indicate that Aston Martin and McLaren are the most likely destinations, with Aston Martin apparently in the lead. When the split between Newey and Red Bull was announced on May 1st, speculation about his next destination multiplied, with Ferrari initially seeming the most obvious choice: between the glamour of the Red team and the chance to work with Lewis Hamilton, everything suggested a move to Ferrari.
Not only that: as well remembered by Chinchero himself, during the Miami weekend there was talk of an already signed agreement between Newey and Ferrari. But the reality was quite different: the talks between Frederic Vasseur and Newey were in-depth, but ultimately it was just one of many negotiations carried out by the English technician, assisted by former F1 driver Eddie Jordan.
Newey stays in Great Britain: the favored teams
Meanwhile, Newey has started discussions with at least three other teams: Aston Martin, McLaren, and Williams. The first offer from Aston Martin dates back to last March, and Newey’s visit to the new Silverstone headquarters was an important signal, although negotiations with McLaren have been conducted with greater discretion: few have reported the rumors between the Woking team and the now 65-year-old former Red Bull engineer.
A significant element in the context of Aston Martin was the exit of Martin Whitmarsh, former CEO of Aston Martin, not particularly liked by Newey due to their turbulent past at McLaren. In 2005, Whitmarsh had ordered McLaren security to escort Newey out of the headquarters, an episode that left its mark.
Ferrari, what future?
The hopes of seeing Newey at Ferrari have gradually faded, also due to the firm stance of the Cavallino Rampante’s executives, who do not intend to participate in a bidding war for his services. The departure of Enrico Cardile has left a void in the technical department, but in Maranello, it seems priorities have changed: the urgency is to find a project leader, a prominent figure who can bring stability and innovation.
Photo: Scuderia Ferrari HP