Verstappen Newey Red Bull Departure

Max Verstappen comments on Adrian Newey’s exit from Red Bull, emphasizing its minimal impact on his future with the team and his understanding of Newey’s decision.

Max Verstappen has stated that he understands Adrian Newey’s decision to leave Red Bull but asserts that he wanted him to stay.

The three-time world champion has won all his F1 victories in cars designed by Newey. However, Red Bull announced yesterday that he would leave at the start of next year.

“I would have preferred, of course, that Adrian stayed. And that’s what I told Adrian as well.”

However, Verstappen stated that Newey was right to prioritize himself in his decision.

“You have to do what you think is best for yourself because, in the end, F1 is a bit of a shark tank, and I think it’s very important that you think about yourself, that you make the right decision for you and your family.”

“So I don’t hold it against him either. If someone wants to leave, they leave and the person pursues other goals or other things in life. So it’s entirely commendable.”

Pressed to elaborate on the impact of Newey’s loss for Red Bull, Verstappen praises the engineer while putting it into perspective.

“Of course, Adrian has been extremely important for the success of Red Bull, but over time, his role has somewhat changed. I think a lot of people don’t understand what he was actually doing. I’m not saying he was doing nothing, but his role has evolved. Many good people have joined the team, which has strengthened the entire technical department.”

“I can’t speak for everyone at the moment, and who knows, maybe Adrian’s departure will be good for the team. It might not always be negative, and it’s nothing against Adrian, but you see in many businesses and sports, when someone has been part of the team and then suddenly leaves, it’s not always a problem or a negative thing. Maybe it will foster young talent because there will never be another Adrian, but that’s okay because it would be quite boring if everyone was like Adrian.”

“Of course, I would have preferred he stayed, as you can always rely on his experience. And as a person, he’s a great guy to talk and interact with. But I also have a lot of confidence in the technical team we have beyond Adrian, which is very, very strong and they have proven it over the past few years with the competitiveness of the car.”

“So, from the outside, it seems very dramatic, but if you actually know what’s going on inside the team, it’s not as dramatic as it appears.”

Verstappen added that there was no point in personally trying to persuade Newey to stay.

“I don’t need to convince anyone, because in the end, if someone really wants to leave, they should leave. That’s also what I wrote to him. If you think it’s the right decision for you, or if you’re looking for a different challenge or something else, you need to do it. Ultimately, everyone thinks about themselves.”

“I know that, I’m not stupid. I can’t deny that I would have preferred him to stay just for who he is as a person, his knowledge, and what he might potentially bring to another team if he decides to join them.”

Verstappen has a long-term contract with Red Bull to stay with the team until 2028. However, Newey’s departure casts doubt on the team’s competitiveness in the future, especially with new technical regulations coming in 2026.

He stated that he would have no reason to leave the team as long as he remains satisfied with the performance of their car… and the environment at Red Bull.

Asked if this led him to question his own future at Red Bull, or if he considered rival financial offers, Verstappen replied, “No, not at the moment.”

“I hear what is being said… Ultimately, for me, it’s not about the money. I am already very happy, of course, with what I have in the team,” he said, likely referring to speculation about a 150 million euros per year offer from Mercedes F1.

“Ultimately, it’s really important to have the fastest car and of course a good environment, and that’s what we currently have and that’s also what I ask for.”

“As long as the environment is favorable and we have the fastest car, it’s quite simple.”

“As I’ve said before, I think it’s important to always have the fastest car, because it makes it much easier to think clearly about what is right. Ultimately, we have a very strong group of people who perhaps aren’t talked about enough in the press in general.”

“It’s good, they know what they need to do, they know their worth to the team, and they know how important they have been for the current success with the car. We just continue to work.”

Is this environment something he will monitor in the coming weeks? His father mentioned a risk of collapse and no longer referred to 2028 as a possible date before a transfer elsewhere.

“It’s something that we monitor all the time, nothing has changed. The team knows what I want and if those elements are there, I have no reason to leave. We’ll see.”

So, this does not rule out a departure? Verstappen carefully chooses his words to stay politically correct without closing the door.

“For now, I can say that I want to stay in the team because I believe in the project we have, with all the people involved. But ultimately, in sports, as well as in life, you never know what might happen in the future.”