Christian Horner Reportedly Sidelines Adrian Newey by Giving Power to His Right-Hand Man at Red Bull
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LE CASTELLET, FRANCE – JUNE 23: Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner and Adrian Newey, the Chief Technical Officer of Red Bull Racing look on from the pit wall during qualifying for the Formula One Grand Prix of France at Circuit Paul Ricard on June 23, 2018 in Le Castellet, France. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images)
Though Red Bull’s on-track performance is an extension of their 2023 dominance, the unrest within the team reportedly continues. The Christian Horner case has gone from being a personal issue to seemingly affecting contract renewals of key members. Max Verstappen is reportedly in secret talks with Mercedes, and both Helmut Marko and Adrian Newey are looking at opportunities with rival teams.
There has also been talks of a rift between Horner and RB Technical mastermind Newey. While all this is happening, rivals are attempting to poach Newey’s right-hand man and RB Technical Director Pierre Wache. Ferrari had “intensified contact” with Wache over a month ago, and even Mercedes was in talks with the Frenchman.
But as per the latest reports by F1-Insider, Christian Horner has shut these poaching attempts by extending Pierre Wache’s contract. It is also reported that the ‘power struggle’ within the team is in Horner’s favor. Moreover, the Red Bull TP considers Newey as just another cog in the wheel despite his creation of the mighty RB19. Consequently, Wache is now considered the next big thing that’ll usher in the new era of RB dominance.
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via Reuters
Formula One F1 – Pre-Season Testing – Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain – February 21, 2024 Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, chief technology officer Adrian Newey and team advisor Helmut Marko during the pre-season testing REUTERS/Hamad I Mohammed
The Milton Keynes outfit is, no doubt, in a tough spot to retain personnel. Despite the reports about this rift with Newey, Horner has denied rumors of the RB mastermind’s exit.
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Christian Horner highlights the importance of Adrian Newey in Red Bull
The Red Bull Team Principal commended Adrian Newey’s contribution to elevating the Milton Keynes outfit to never-before-seen levels in F1. After all, the RB19 and RB20 showed the depths to which engineers can go to help drivers reach new heights. But what the British TP didn’t deny was the interest from rivals in taking Newey away from Red Bull.
“Adrian’s an important part and long-term part of our team,” Horner said after the Japanese GP. “So, he’s enmeshed within the team, and there’s always going to be interest in Adrian for sure.”
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Pierre Wache has been Newey’s Number 2 at Red Bull. Though he has humbly credited the entire team at the factory for Red Bull’s brilliance, will he be able to justify being the Number 1 Technical man if Newey departs?
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Edited by:
Varunkumaar Chelladurai