Reports indicate that Adrian Newey is on the verge of departing Red Bull, with an official announcement expected shortly.
Luigi Perna of La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Ferrari chief Frederic Vasseur "did not travel with the team to Miami" mid this week. Instead, he journeyed first to London. The purpose? To potentially finalize discussions with Adrian Newey that have been ongoing quietly.
It appears that Newey, a prominent figure in Red Bull's design team, has been negotiating an early exit from his current contract, scheduled to run until 2025, to avoid an extended period of inactivity and 'gardening leave'.
Sources suggest that the parties have reached a settlement, setting the stage for an imminent announcement, likely within a few days.
It is speculated that Red Bull might delay the announcement until after May 2, avoiding overlap with the commemoration of Ayrton Senna's death anniversary from 1994.
Mercedes' Toto Wolff appears resigned to the idea that Newey won't be joining Brackley, stating at a promotional event in New York, "A lot of people are speculating about what he will ultimately do." Wolff added, "I look at it as a fan and watch what happens."
Red Bull remains tight-lipped, with a spokesperson for the team telling Italy's Autosprint: "No comment to make at this time."
Adding to the turmoil, there are indications that Max Verstappen and his management team might engage with Mercedes executives post-Miami to explore a possible switch for the reigning world champion.
Jan Lammers, a Dutch GP executive, spoke to F1Maximaal, highlighting, "There are contracts that he and Red Bull must adhere to." He further noted, "In principle, he is under contract until 2028, and I see no reason yet why he would want to have it terminated early."
Wolff has countered claims of the impending discussion with Verstappen's representatives, stating, "This is one of the rumours." He concluded, "People make up stories about what goes on behind the scenes with drivers, but these things should stay behind closed doors."
