Watto wrote: ↑01 May 2024, 14:57
Saward on Twitter saying the RB17 is pretty much finished and this is just the gardening leave. He’s also leaning more towards AM over Ferarri if he was to go anywhere a grain of salt but who knows
I respect Saward, but he did say last week he wouldn't believe Newey was leaving until Newey announced it. But you don't extract somebody out of a contract in a week. Eddie Jordan has played a blinder in extracting Newey from his Red Bull contract. He's free to start work at an F1 team in 2025 If I've read things correctly.
'He also revealed that his departure had been handled by former F1 team boss Eddie Jordan, who Newey described as his “close friend and manager”.
Jordan and Newey have succeeded in pulling off a major coup in extricating the designer from a contract that ran to the end of 2025 and included a 12-month “non-compete” clause which should have meant he was not available to any other team until 2027 at the earliest.'
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cv2rd53gnr6o
This will have taken a few weeks to negotiate. Sky Sports F1 are saying AM sources believe Newey is leaning towards Ferrari and they won't get him. So, it's anyone's guess at this point.
Paa wrote: ↑01 May 2024, 16:03
Hoffman900 wrote: ↑01 May 2024, 14:41
I think he’s retired. He has plenty of other sticks in the fire; sailing, vintage racing, etc. and that’s what he plays with going forward.
If just retirement, then why would they announce it now? They could simply do it nicely at end of the season with probably an other wdc&wcc in the bag.
My feeling is that he is not decided yet, but wanted to announce he will be free so he can consider his options.
Probably because Newey might have already signed on the dotted line with a new team, and Red Bull would want to put their spin on things. As it's the anniversary of Senna's death today, I'd expect nothing to be officially confirmed by Newey today on what he's doing next.