by VALERIO BARRETTA
Red Bull, risk of demobilization
The first piece of the Red Bull domino activated by Chris’ confirmation Horner he fell at the head of the wall. His name is Adrian Newey, who yesterday announced his farewell to the Milton Keynes team: the designer had been in disagreement with Horner for some time following the Red Bull employee’s accusations against the latter. He was accused of accusations from which Horner was cleared (by a lawyer close to the owner Chalerm Yoovidhya, the only ally of the team principal) but which evidently undermined the balance within the team.
Newey could be just the first in a series of notable figures to leave the team which is dominating Formula 1. The brilliant designer could be imitated by Max Verstappen, after dad Jos’ words reopened the doors to a separation again. Ralf Schumacher, who has always been close to Verstappen, even believes it is certain that the Dutchman will leave by the end of 2025, three years before the contractual deadline.
Schumacher’s words
“I think Max has several options. In the paddock we already hear others talking about him. The question is whether it will happen next year or the year after that, but for me it is certain that he wants to leave“, these are the words of Schumacher a Sky Sports Deutschland.
Not just Verstappen, now the risk is that other engineers will also leave: “They want to go somewhere else and follow Newey. The team spirit is no longer what Dietrich Mateschitz would have wanted. What is happening now is truly a shame and a sadness. It’s incredible that now everything is falling apart because of people Mateschitz trusted“. The reference is naturally to Horner, who will have won the first legal battle but as widely expected this risks being a Pyrrhic victory if the price to pay is demobilization.
