Max Verstappen gives honest response to Adrian Newey Red Bull exit as Lewis Hamilton reacts to Ferrari rumours
Max Verstappen admits he'd have 'preferred' Adrian Newey to stay at Red Bull amid the designer's departure announcement.
Newey confirmed he will depart his role as design chief in the first quarter of 2025 following nearly two decades with the team.
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The 65-year-old is regarded as the greatest designer in the history of Formula 1 amid a swathe of Grand Prix successes.
Red Bull star Verstappen has since revealed that he would have liked him to remain with the team but insists his departure will not affect his future.
"Not at the moment," the world champion said via ahead of the Miami Grand Prix. "The rest people are making up a lot of stuff because they don't understand how the roles are in the team.
"But of course I cannot deny I would have preferred him to stay. Just for how he is as a person. His knowledge and what he will bring potentially to another team if he wants to job. Besides that, I trust the people we have are incredibly good.
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"If someone really wants to leave they should leave, that's what I wrote to him, if you think that is the right decision for yourself and your family, you have to do it.
"At the end of the day, F1 is a shark tank. Everyone thinks about themselves at the end of the day. I know that. I'm not stupid. So that's fine."
Verstappen has recently been linked with a sensational switch to Mercedes as their replacement for Lewis Hamilton.
The joint-record seven-time F1 world champion will join Ferrari next season, with Newey also linked with a move to the Italian team.
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And it seems as though Hamilton is keen to work with the soon-to-be former Red Bull chief as he too prepares for his next chapter.
"I mean, Adrian’s known for… he’s got such a great history, track record, and has obviously just done an amazing job through his career, in engaging with teams and the knowledge he has," he said via the .
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“I think he would be an amazing addition. I think they’ve [Ferrari] already got a great team, they’re already making huge progress, strides forwards, their car’s quicker this year. But yeah, it would be a privilege to work with him.â€
Red Bull will be hoping to win their eighth Drivers’ Championship and seventh Constructors’ Championship titles under Newey this season.
Verstappen already sits top of the drivers' standings on 110 points with his teammate Sergio Perez second on 85.
With four wins coming from five races so far in 2024, Red Bull are top of the constructors' table on 195 points ahead of Ferrari on 151.
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