The departure of Adrian Newey from Red Bull comes amid significant off-track drama for the dominant Formula 1 team. Throughout his career, Newey’s exits from teams have been marked by unusual and seismic circumstances. These events have been extensively covered in our Bring Back V10s classic F1 stories podcast series over the past four years. For a comprehensive exploration of these stories and the memories of our panelists, we invite you to listen to the full episodes below.
In his book “How to Build a Car,” Newey reflects on the self-doubt he experienced during his time at Leyton House in 1989 and early 1990. Despite struggling to match the success of the ultra-dominant McLarens in 1988, Newey’s career trajectory since then has proven that his initial doubts were unfounded. His departure from Leyton House coincided with a temporary improvement in the team’s car.
Newey was aware of fundamental issues with the 1989 car and tried to create a “desensitized” version for its successor. However, the new car proved to be so problematic, resulting in Leyton House failing to qualify for six out of the first six races of 1990. The discovery of a disparity between Leyton House’s wind tunnel data and the new Comtec tunnel deepened the confusion. This led Newey to identify a curved floor in the Southampton tunnel, which caused the car to sit above a concave surface. As a result, the diffuser was unloaded, leading to the development of an aggressive shape that proved ineffective in reality. Newey embarked on a process of redesigning key components, including the diffuser, while also addressing aerodynamic separation under the front wing.
During this period, Leyton House owner Akira Akagi faced financial difficulties and brought in a new financial director, Simon Keeble. Keeble expressed doubts about Newey’s abilities and clashed with him regularly. Despite their disagreements, Keeble eventually agreed to invest in Newey’s design work. Meanwhile, Newey received an offer from Williams to become the head of research and development.
Before he could resign from Leyton House, Newey was effectively fired by Keeble, who informed that the team was hiring Chris Murphy as the new technical director. Newey had the option to leave or accept a lesser role within the team. Keeble described the team as being in a terrible state after the double failure to qualify in Mexico.
However, Leyton House’s luck changed dramatically at the Paul Ricard circuit. Both cars qualified in the top ten, thanks to the impact of Newey’s new diffuser and the benefits of a resurfaced track. Ivan Capelli and Mauricio Gugelmin finished in first and second place, respectively, after adopting a bold strategy with no pit stops. Although Gugelmin retired due to an engine failure, Capelli secured a second place behind Alain Prost’s Ferrari. Keeble acknowledged Newey’s contributions to the design changes that revitalized Leyton House’s performance, but also expressed his desire to build a strong team, rather than relying solely on one person.
While Newey was proud of the team’s success, he couldn’t help but wonder what could have happened if he had maintained the upper hand over Keeble politically. However, he recognized that Keeble’s presence was a result of Akagi’s financial problems. Akagi’s eventual arrest in 1991 and the subsequent renaming of the team to March led to its eventual disappearance.
The promotion of Newey to chief designer at Williams came with high expectations, but cracks in his relationship with Frank Williams and Patrick Head began to emerge. Newey was dissatisfied with the treatment given by Williams to Nigel Mansell, leading to his departure from F1 at the end of the 1992 season. When Newey signed his contract extension in 1993, it included clauses that guaranteed him a voice in important decisions, including driver selection. However, these agreements were not honored, and Newey felt he was being taken advantage of. Despite offers from McLaren, Newey decided to stay at Williams.
The tense relationship between Newey and Williams continued to deteriorate. Newey was disappointed when he was offered a pay cut for a new contract in 2001. Feeling undervalued, he considered leaving for Jaguar, but ultimately decided against it. The announcement of his possible move to Jaguar caused confusion and eventually led to an agreement for him to stay at McLaren. However, the consequences of this incident set the stage for Newey’s eventual departure from McLaren in 2005 to join the newly formed Red Bull team.
Newey’s arrival at Red Bull marked a turning point for the team as they transitioned from being seen as a party team to a serious competitor. The opportunity to be part of a team from its early stages attracted Newey, as it seemed like unfinished business after his experience at Leyton House. His departure from McLaren prompted the creation of a new management structure to prevent the team from becoming overly dependent on one individual.
In conclusion, Newey’s career has been marked by significant departures from various teams, each with their own unique circumstances. Despite facing challenges and setbacks, his talent and contributions have consistently shaped the trajectory of Formula 1 teams.
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Brazilian wins world surfing title in Fiji
Brazilian surfer Gabriel Medina made history by winning the world surfing title in Fiji. With an exceptional performance, Medina dominated the waves and surpassed his opponents, securing his place at the top of the podium.
Medina, who hails from São Paulo, showcased all his talent and skill throughout the competition. With spectacular maneuvers and a perfect read of the waves, he left the judges impressed and earned the victory deservedly.
Aside from being a great athlete, Medina is also an example of resilience. He faced many challenges throughout his career, but never gave up. His determination and dedication led him to achieve the long-awaited world title.
With this victory, Gabriel Medina solidifies himself as one of the best surfers in the world. His flawless technique and unique style make him a feared competitor by his opponents. The future of Brazilian surfing is in good hands with Medina leading the way.
Congratulations, Gabriel Medina, on this incredible achievement! Brazil is proud to have such a talented surfer representing the country in the biggest sports events. May this victory be just the beginning of a brilliant and successful career. We are excited to see what the future holds for you.
