Hamilton fuels defection rumours, Red Bull in danger of being ‘utterly ripped apart’

Adrian Newey's future is up in the air.

The F1 champs are in the bullseye of the sport’s latest circus, with Lewis Hamilton stoking rumours as Red Bull risks total capitulation.

Lewis Hamilton has added fuel to the rumours over the future of departing Red Bull designer Adrian Newey, saying he would be an “amazing addition” for his future team Ferrari.

Red Bull confirmed the 65-year-old Newey’s impending exit in early 2025, after 19 years with the team.

Media reports have suggested that Ferrari would be among the favourites to snap up Newey, who is regarded as the greatest designer in the sport’s history.

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Hamilton, who will join Ferrari from Mercedes at the end of this season, told reporters at the Miami Grand Prix that he would like to see Newey join Ferrari.

“Very much … Adrian’s got such a great history, track record, he’s just done an amazing job through his career in engaging with teams and the knowledge that he has.

“I think he would be an amazing addition. If I was to do a list of people that I’d love to work with, he would absolutely be at the top there.”

Former F1 driver Johnny Herbert believes Newey’s departure is the beginning of the end of Red Bull’s dynasty, but it could have been avoided if the Christian Horner scandal was handled differently.

“It is very sad that Red Bull have caused their two big assets – Max (Verstappen) and Adrian – to want to leave,” Herbert said, per FastestPayoutOnline.com.

“If Adrian goes, Max will look for pastures new.

Red Bull’s dominance might fall apart quickly. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

“This whole incident which started with Christian has caused so much damage. There has been no acceptance on his part it seems on what is better for the team rather than him. As I see it he is staying there stubbornly just to keep himself in a job.

“What annoys me about Horner is that all his stupid taunts fired at Toto Wolff suggest he is jealous of him. Toto is in control at Mercedes but for Christian it is not quite the same. He is not the boss. Toto decides what happens at the team.

“As things stand at the moment they have the best driver, the best car, the best designer in the best team and it is being utterly ripped apart.

“It seems ridiculous that it has gotten to this point where it is about power and control, when what the team already has is outstanding in the first place. Why seek to change all that and allow this friction to be created because of one man?”

There remains a world in which none of Max Verstappen, Christian Horner, Helmut Marko and Newey are at Red Bull next year.

Adrian Newey is quitting Red Bull. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)

Herbert said the capitulation would have left Red Bull’s late co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz “utterly devastated that people he put into the big positions, who he trusted to make the team function, have allowed this to happen”.

“He will be looking down from heaven wondering: ‘What the hell are these people doing?’

“He would be very surprised that this internal split has occurred with Christian siding with (Thai billionaire) Chalerm Yoovidhya, the majority owner and the Austrians.

“Austria is where the main assets lie, where the power and the base are and where it all started and the national anthem which is played when they win. That is being ripped apart.”

Herbert said he wouldn’t be surprised if Verstappen were to leave Red Bull, but his options appear limited to Aston Martin and the downward trending Mercedes.

“The ongoing shenanigans have made it a very uncomfortable place to be,” he said.

“If Adrian does go he’s the one who has the ideas and created what Red Bull has had in the last couple of years.

“I imagine Max would be absolutely fuming. Remember Jos, his dad, had predicted that this saga could erupt and it is getting very close to exploding. Would Max want to be part of that? Absolutely not.

“The only option he (Verstappen) would really have is Mercedes whether it is next year to give himself time to bed in ahead of 2026 and the new regulations. That is the only place where there is a seat. Fernando Alonso would not want Max if Lance Stroll is removed.”

Red Bull are in crisis mode but Max Verstappen could win a fourth title this year. (Photo by GIORGIO VIERA / AFP)

All signs are pointing to Newey heading to Ferrari to join forces with Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. Newey has previously said he wished he had the chance to work with Alonso during his career.
“It’s a big decision,” Herbert said of Newey’s future.

“Does he opt for Aston Martin who have never won a championship, or Ferrari who haven’t for more than 15 years, or Mercedes who are in disarray with their car.

“The fact Lewis has gone to Ferrari indicates that would be where Adrian will end up. I think that appeal to get them back to winning ways would draw him in. That is the place where he would want to have his last hurrah.”

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix, Hamilton pushed back a little against the idea that Newey’s exit would lead to a sudden decline for Red Bull.

“Racing against the team that he has been so heavily a part of for years has been a massive challenge but I think we need to remember that there are a lot of people in the background and it is not one person, it’s a whole team who do the job, “I don’t anticipate Red Bull not continuing to build great cars moving forwards but any team would be fortunate to have the opportunity to work with him,” he added.

Lewis Hamilton wants Newey to join him at Ferrari. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Verstappen’s Red Bull teammate Sergio Perez said he was sure Newey would have a significant impact wherever he ends up in the sport.

“Adrian, with the experience he has, he has contributed a lot to the Red Bull philosophy so I assume he will cause an immediate impact wherever he goes or whatever he does,” the Mexican said.

“He is a very clever guy and a very hard worker. Working with Adrian, he is much more than a designer, he can influence even strategies, set-up, he could have that influence on a race weekend.

“To have him around on race weekends was great. He is a very strong individual and wherever he goes he will cause an immediate impact. But it is a whole group of people that he will require to have around him as well.”

With AFP