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Christian Horner claims aero genius Adrian Newey 'hated' every technical rule change in F1

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Aditya Pandya | Last updated 5/12/24

Adrian Newey will leave from Red Bull by the 2025 season after finishing the RB17 Hypercar. Multiple people have speculated the ever-growing tensions at Red Bull to be the reason behind the shocking exit. The aero-genius has not yet declared the official reasons for exiting the team. Regardless, Christian Horner revealed that the technical wizard used to hate every technical rule change in Formula 1.

Christian Horner believed that Adrian Newey was departing Red Bull due to wanting some time from the sport. The team principal recalled Newey’s age of 65 and how he had every bit of right to have a time-out. The aero-genius will probably retire from the sport to spend quality time with his family apart from his duties in the pinnacle of motorsport.

I think he's going to take some time out first. He's 65 years of age and I think he's earned that right to have a bit of time out, spend some time with his wife and family. Christian Horner told Sky Sports F1.

Additionally, the Red Bull team boss mentioned that Newey was keen to spend family time after retiring from the sport. Christian Horner asserted that Adrian Newey ironically hated every regulation change despite nailing chassis development in multiple seasons.

That's what he's very keen to do. If he decides he wants to have another run at F1, who knows? The ironic thing is, Adrian has always hated every single regulation change. Christian Horner mentioned.

Christian Horner labels 2026 regulation changes as ‘unique’

Adrian Newey understood the ground-effect era exceptionally well and helped the Austrian team dominate the entirety of the era. However, Newey’s retirement might prove fatal to Red Bull’s chassis development for the 2026 season.

Christian Horner highlighted that the 2026 regulation changes were unique because they were both chassis and engine regulations. Formula 1 for the first time went backward and reduced the size of the chassis during the new regulations. Additionally, the team principal mentioned that it was a very different world today due to the cost cap and resource restriction for chassis development on teams.

2026 is a unique one because it's both chassis and engine regulations. It's a very different world these days with the cost cap and the restrictions we have on resource. Christian Horner concluded.

However, regardless of Horner’s beliefs, Newey is rumored to be Ferrari’s top priority. The 65-year-old might not give up too soon and try his hands with the Italian constructor. There has been no concrete decision on the aero-genius’ future in Formula 1 currently. Adrian Newey will soon address the rumors and provide clarity over his job in Formula 1 in the coming seasons.

This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

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