Newey's role at Red Bull cut down to zero: Can no longer access data

Exactly as planned, Adrian Newey was present in Miami for the Grand Prix last weekend with Red Bull Racing. Actually, that is also all the Briton did: be present. Since he agreed last week with the Austrian racing stable to leave Red Bull Racing from 1 April 2025, his role has been completely played out. In Miami, this became absolutely clear: the 65-year-old was not allowed to join any briefings.

As always, Newey had his notebook within reach. Again, he gave a few tips here and there while the mechanics tinkered with the cars of Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez. Before the start of the sprint race on Saturday and the Grand Prix a day later, Newey shuffled between competitors' cars as usual, his eye always on the details. But at times when Red Bull went to discuss technical matters internally and Newey could have explained what he had noticed, then his presence was no longer wanted.

"Adrian's focus is very much on the RB17 (Red Bull's hypercar, ed.)," Christian Horner says. "He’s not sat in any briefings over the weekend other than the race strategy and he has no access to any data. He's not drawing any parts. His focus is now very much on RB17 to the end of his contract."

That Newey is nevertheless going to be present at some Grands Prix has to do with the fact that at those times there is a need to talk about the hypercar he developed. "He'll be at some races between now and the end of the year primarily where we have RB17 customers," Horner explained.

It is still unknown which races Newey will appear at this season.