History shows Newey's departure could have huge consequences

Adrian Newey will leave Red Bull Racing and so you are quick to hear people around the team exclaim that the top designer's influence has been nil in recent years. While it is true that Newey was no longer involved in day-to-day operations as Chief Technical Officer, he is now the man responsible for Max Verstappen's current successful car.

Of course, it is now very easy for Red Bull Racing to say that there is a good team in place. Pierré Wache makes a good impression as technical director, but you can't help feel that Newey still has a louder voice on the drawing board that counts more. The fact that Newey has a high knowledge of the current ground-effect cars is another clear sign.

After all, just because an organisation is in good shape under a top executive does not mean it will function without that top executive. How many major sports teams have collapsed after a top executive disappeared?

Ferrari and Manchester United are examples for Red Bull Racing

In F1, Ferrari is the best example. That team hasn't been dominant since the departure of Jean Todt and Ross Brawn. Although most of the people in the organisation remained the same, the results have failed to materialise. Such a team of hundreds needs a leader who points in the right direction, who comes up with brilliant ideas. Brawn was that for Ferrari, Newey has been that for years for Red Bull Racing.

Ferrari are far from being the only example. Consider Manchester United, who have struggled for years following Sir Alex Ferguson's departure. 

It is too easy to think that the rest of the team can just take over from a genius like Newey. It is no coincidence that he has built championship-winning cars at Williams, McLaren and Red Bull Racing. That is quality. The quality that will be lost if he leaves must be absorbed.

That is not to say that Waché and Enrico Balbo (Head of Aerodynamics) do not have those qualities. They now have to go and prove that. However, assuming that they should be able to do without Newey for a while is too facile.

Success in sport (or in any other industry) ultimately depends on people. It is no different in F1. You can draw out all the success teams of the past. Then you always mention the team boss, the top technical man and the star driver. Replace one of those parts and you get the chance of the team becoming unbalanced. Let alone if with Newey's departure you would also lose the star driver. Then Red Bull Racing's dominance in F1 could soon be over.