Horner comments on Newey's departure: 'Now is the time to take a break'

Following the announcement this week that Chief Technology Officer Adrian Newey is set to leave Red Bull Racing after 18 years, there has been much speculation over why he is leaving the team and where he will go next. Speaking after the Miami Grand Prix Free Practice session, team boss Christian Horner spoke to Sky Sports to address the rumours, and explain Newey's decision.

"Just speaking with him, he's reached a point where the team is in great, great shape. We're performing at such a high level. He feels now's the right tome for him to step away, take a bit of time out," Horner commented.

Newey is set to depart the team in the first quarter of 2025, and has been inundated with offers from teams such as Ferrari, Aston Martin, and now Williams. Until then, Newey is taking a step back from F1, and as Horner said: "He's still going to be working on his RB 17, the track car that we're designing. But he felt that now is the time to take a break."

Newey has been working in motorsports for the last 30 years, having spent seven with Williams, followed by another seven years with McLaren prior to joining Red Bull. 

What makes Newey so special?

"He's a formidable engineer, and he's always scratching for that last bit of performance, his challenges. He pushes the boundaries," said Horner. "There's been, what, 117 victories and quite a few world championships along the way."

Commenting on what he will miss most about the engineer, Horner added: "Most of all, you know, I'll miss the camaraderie."

"There's been a few lows, but, I'll certainly miss the camaraderie."