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Red Bull Newey Departure Not a Fundamental Blow

Red Bull: Newey Departure Not a Fundamental Blow

19/05/2024

Red Bull’s Pierre Waché asserts the team can thrive without Adrian Newey, emphasizing collaboration over individual genius.

Red Bull’s technical director, Pierre Waché, has confirmed that the team is excluding Adrian Newey from technical meetings, revealing that the team “is being very cautious” about the departure of the F1 design guru.

Waché has long been considered Newey’s successor within Red Bull’s technical structure, with Christian Horner making it a point to credit the Frenchman for much of the team’s success in recent years.

This has sparked criticism from the Newey camp and caused some discomfort in the media, expressed by Adrian and his wife.

In Imola, Waché emphasized the need to limit Newey’s involvement, fearing he might pass Red Bull’s secrets to his new employers. He stated that Newey’s reputation should not prevent him from being treated like any other person leaving a team.

“Currently, since he has the potential to be hired by a competitor—as with any departing employee, regardless of their name—there is a risk of intellectual property from Red Bull being transferred to the current and future car.”

“We are very cautious. He is the one who taught me that!”

Regarding the controversy over his recent achievements, Waché is clear: “it is a loss for Red Bull.”

Red Bull: Newey is ‘Important’ but His Departure is not ‘Fundamental’

Waché Does Not See Himself as the Design Genius’ Replacement

Red Bull’s technical director, Pierre Waché, has confirmed that the team is excluding Adrian Newey from technical meetings, revealing that the team “is being very cautious” about the departure of the F1 design guru.

Waché has long been considered Newey’s successor within Red Bull’s technical structure, with Christian Horner making it a point to credit the Frenchman for much of the team’s success in recent years.

This has sparked criticism from the Newey camp and caused some discomfort in the media, expressed by Adrian and his wife.

In Imola, Waché emphasized the need to limit Newey’s involvement, fearing he might pass Red Bull’s secrets to his new employers. He stated that Newey’s reputation should not prevent him from being treated like any other person leaving a team.

“Currently, since he has the potential to be hired by a competitor—as with any departing employee, regardless of their name—there is a risk of intellectual property from Red Bull being transferred to the current and future car.”

“We are very cautious. He is the one who taught me that!”

Regarding the controversy over his recent achievements, Waché is clear: “it is a loss for Red Bull.”

“When you lose someone as important as him, his experience will clearly be missed, but we’ve been trying to work without him in certain areas for some time now.”

“We know we have good people and the future will tell how difficult it will be, but we are prepared.”

“To be honest, he wasn’t present at all the races last year, so it doesn’t fundamentally change things for us.”

When asked to specify what Red Bull would lose when Newey leaves, Waché reiterated his view that the team will continue to thrive without him.

“His experience, mainly, and of course his mind. He is intelligent and very sharp, and we will miss that.”

“But we have tried working without him in the past and we will try to continue. It is a huge challenge, and we will meet it.”

When asked if he feared Newey might join Ferrari, Waché responded: “It’s very difficult to judge a personal decision, the choice to go somewhere. I have changed teams in the past, he has changed teams in the past.”

“I’m not worried, I already worry about Ferrari – and McLaren – anyway! They are already on our heels.”

“Adrian will impact their car’s performance, but I am focused on us for the moment.”

Waché also expressed his reluctance to be seen as Newey’s replacement at Red Bull, stating that the team’s success does not come from a single individual.

“I’m not here to replace him. I’m here to ensure the team works together, that we have the right technical direction.”

“I don’t want to replace him in the sense of making a big name for myself. That’s not my goal. I’m not the genius. We succeed because of the team.”

“Adrian was part of the team, but now that he’s leaving, it has to happen without him. Success comes from the team and the different actors within it.”

“It doesn’t come from one person – and certainly not from me alone.”

Red Bull: Newey Departure Not a Fundamental Blow. Red Bull: Newey Departure Not a Fundamental Blow

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