Adrian Newey yet to announce his F1 future: Where could he likely end up?

Aston Martin practically have their organisation in order

There is one thing Aston Martin does not have to worry about - money. Co-owner Lawrence Stroll's fortune means he can invest in the team to make it much better and stronger. The brand new factory now completed at Silverstone is a striking example of this. Andy Cowell was recently recruited as CEO, with Cardile following shortly after. In that list, Adrian Newey's name would fit nicely. Only the question has arisen, in what position would this be?

CTO - the position Newey held at Red Bull - has been taken by Cardile. Should Newey choose Aston Martin, it will probably be in an advisory role. Given his age, it is easy to imagine Newey's preference for such a position. Moreover, Aston Martin is at the relative beginning of the road to becoming a top team, so Newey's influence could be greater and this makes it an interesting project. A disadvantage may be that Cardile is in Newey's path in terms of expertise, which could lead to clashes.

A vacant spot at Ferrari

A spot in management has become vacant at Ferrari after Cardile's departure, so Newey as a direct successor to the head of aerodynamics sounds logical. This is a full-time role, though, and as indicated earlier; it is questionable whether Newey is waiting for that. Moreover, in Ferrari's structure, the Brit is not the final boss - that is Fred Vasseur. Ferrari, at least at the moment, does not have a CTO.

The prospect of working with the most successful F1 driver of all time, Lewis Hamilton, may make it attractive for Newey to choose Ferrari. Moreover, it's a completely new environment, with not the British but the Italian way of working (sometimes that's chaos). There are doubts whether that's something Newey can thrive in. In addition, Newey is expected to have at least a regular presence in Maranello, quite a distance from his beloved England and South Africa (where he has a holiday home).

It was reported in the Italian media last week that the company's big bosses want to take the reins a bit more to themselves and, as a result, there are doubts as to whether Newey can live with 'meddling' lords and ladies from higher up. There is a growing suspicion in Italy that Newey would rather go for an option other than the Scuderia. Indeed, the signs are there.

are Williams another choice?

Good news perhaps for Williams, which is the only F1 team that has openly admitted to being keen to bring Newey in. Team boss James Vowles has already spoken to Newey about a return to the old nest. Should Newey make his return to Williams, he will find a team there that bears little resemblance to the successful formation of the 1990s.

Williams are in the process of catching up and even with Newey on board, it cannot be expected to compete for wins in the foreseeable future. There are too many areas that need to be addressed first. At the age of 65 now, Newey has to weigh up whether he wants to take on what is likely to be a long-term project before he is successful (again). On the other hand, Williams is Williams; the team with which Newey has traditionally had a close relationship.

Mercedes, McLaren or perhaps some other outsider will soon get Newey's signature. Teams like McLaren and Mercedes have shaped their organisation in recent years in such a way that the addition of Newey may be unnecessary or even disruptive. But in Formula 1, anything is possible in the paddock, as Lewis Hamilton's transfer to Ferrari proved earlier. Who knows, Newey might surprise friend and foe alike.