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Coulthard Clashes with Jordan Over Newey

Newey’s Bold Exit: A Snub to Red Bull?

20/09/2024

Newey’s controversial departure sparks a fiery debate between Jordan and Coulthard on his intentions.

Officially, Adrian Newey is still under contract with Red Bull. This is why Christian Horner was displeased to see his engineer announce, alongside Lawrence Stroll, his upcoming move to Aston Martin F1 for next year.

“It was obviously a big announcement from Aston. And you know, Adrian has always tended to do what he wanted. It was obviously a significant moment for that team but they chose to celebrate it perhaps a bit prematurely before the end of his contract with Red Bull Racing,” Horner critiqued on that occasion.

Following the announcement, Newey was barred by Red Bull from all circuit travels until the end of the year.

Did Newey thus show disrespect to the team that has hosted him the longest in F1?

For David Coulthard, it’s quite possible. It was very odd to see Newey parading alongside Lawrence Stroll, especially when, for example, Hamilton has not yet been officially presented at Ferrari.

The former McLaren F1 driver discussed this topic in good company, as he spoke on the Formula for Success podcast alongside Eddie Jordan, Newey’s manager.

“It’s not uncommon for announcements to be made about transfers, particularly for drivers, and in sports, footballers change teams even while they play.”

“I must be honest: I was in a situation where, when I left Williams, I went to McLaren during the 1995 season and sat down with the engineers towards the end of the season to give as much information as I could remember.”

“I didn’t feel very comfortable doing that, frankly, but Ron Dennis had asked me, I was young, and that’s where I was going to work in 1996.”

“I remember sitting down with Mario Ilien, who was behind the Mercedes engine, and he asked me about the Renault engine. I really felt like I was lacking professionalism—and that’s my confession.”

And Coulthard somewhat critiqued Newey’s behavior in front of Eddie Jordan himself!

“I haven’t had the chance to see Adrian with Aston, to see him participate in the press conference, walking around the factory while he’s still under contract with Red Bull—he’s still working on the RB17, the road car, which looks exceptional.”

“I got the impression he was giving the middle finger to his family when he left them.”

“Adrian is a friend. And therefore, when you speak publicly about your friends, they may not like it, but this is my truth.”

“I’ve told you my truth and I didn’t like being at McLaren while I was still under contract with Williams.”

“I said earlier in the year that Lewis was mentally at Ferrari and, of course, some people who think I’m negative towards Lewis will say: You’ve never won anything, what are you talking about?”

“It doesn’t matter what I’ve won or not, but what does matter is knowing what it’s like to have one foot in your next relationship while you’re still in another.”

“And it doesn’t matter whether you’re in business or it’s a relationship in the purest sense of the word, people who have affairs and all the rest. You can’t give 100% to two things. You’re going to give 100% to one thing.”

Jordan responds to Coulthard’s accusations

Naturally, Newey’s manager, Eddie Jordan, refutes any claims of rudeness. And he sharply responds to David Coulthard.

“I’m going to defend him.”

“First off, I’d say that organizing Adrian Newey’s press release from Red Bull was, for me—and I am not a young man—probably one of the most professional and coolest things I’ve ever done.”

“And I say that because most things were kept secret. The fact that we had reached an agreement was kept secret.”

“You didn’t hear from me before September 6, and that was the date set by Red Bull for when we could or could not say anything.”

“So I have nothing but admiration for Adrian, because he didn’t say a word until the date Red Bull allowed us to comment.”

Isn’t Newey still under contract with Milton Keynes?

“Adrian isn’t there, at Red Bull. He is on gardening leave. That’s a completely different thing, you’re [you = Coulthard] mixing up drivers and team members.”

“Adrian is on gardening leave. He has a date in his contract, which was stipulated by me and Red Bull and has been adhered to in every case.”

“I can assure you that I know of no one who has breached that date, and so we did everything in our power to honor it.”

“Adrian was very meticulous about this. The respect he has for Red Bull is incredible and, in many ways, unsurmountable, because I think that’s where he is.”

“It’s in him, he said it was his family. And it is his family, it’s your family, David, and, indirectly, probably mine too since I’ve known Christian for 20 years and Dietrich Mateschitz [the late founder of Red Bull] for 30 years.”

“This was conducted in the most incredibly correct manner possible. It might be the best thing I’ve ever done.”

“The reason I say this is that everything was arranged and coordinated so elegantly that I am very proud of it.”

“I am very proud of Red Bull, very proud of myself and my actions there, and I am incredibly proud of Adrian and how he handled this situation.”

Coulthard Clashes with Jordan Over Newey Coulthard Clashes with Jordan Over Newey. f1 2024 Coulthard Clashes with Jordan Over Newey

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