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Newey reveals how much of his time goes to Red Bull F1 team and elsewhere
Red Bull Racing have a great car. Adrian Newey is responsible for designing the RB19, but the day-to-day management is in the hands of technical director Pierre Waché. Newey himself and team boss Christian Horner explain why this construction was chosen and why it works so well.
Newey is currently not 100% committed to Formula 1. In fact, the top designer also enjoys challenges outside the top class of motorsport. In the years before Honda joined as an engine partner, Newey was only indirectly involved in Red Bull's F1 project.
With Renault as a partner - and thus without a competitive engine - Red Bull were struggling in Formula 1, and Newey's motivation disappeared. "I remember going with Christian and Helmut [Marko] to Carlos Ghosn (former CEO of Renault) on the Champs Elysees. He [Ghosn] turned around and said: 'We’re only in Formula 1 because my marketing people tell me we should be. I have no interest in it myself.’ That was a pretty depressing moment."
Other projects
Newey went on to focus more on the Aston Martin Valkyrie, but has since devoted more of his time to Formula 1 again. "I suppose I’m a bit of a maverick in as much as… I’ve managed to get to a situation now where it [the F1 engineering team] can operate procedurally without me, which allows me to be spoilt enough to be able to get involved in any area I feel like."
Newey has been involved in submarine design (a project commissioned by Red Bull co-owner Dietrich Mateschitz, who died last year) and the America's Cup with Alinghi, a sailing competition. It was also a key demand of Newey when he extended his contract at Red Bull last year: at all times, he wants to be able to get involved in other things as well.
Waché
The person who makes that possible is Pierre Waché. The Frenchman has been associated with Red Bull for years and has led the formation at the technical level since 2018. Horner argues that Newey is still crucial in the design phase but that he can play a lesser role during weekends, partly due to developments in regulations. Fewer changes are now allowed to the car during a weekend than before.
"But as he’s taken on a broader role the rest of the group has had to evolve and develop. Particularly after Adrian’s [cycling] accident in 2021, the guys really had to step up with the design of RB18. Pierre did a great job in doing that. On a day-to-day basis, that is Pierre’s responsibility now, his accountability. The relationship between the two of them is strong. Honestly, I think it’s the strongest engineering team we’ve ever had." said the British team boss.