Red Bull confirm Adrian Newey exit as Christian Horner releases statement on F1 car designer

The 65-year-old will step back from his duties in Formula One and focus on the development of the company's first hypercar - the RB17.

Red Bull confirm Newey will see the project through to its completion amid rumours he wants to join another team on the F1 grid.

Ferrari and Aston Martin have both been linked with wanting to lure Newey to their respective teams.

The Italian giants have tried and failed in the past to secure his services, a decision he has since said he regrets.

Reports last week claimed that Newey wanted to leave Red Bull before the end of his current contract.

Red Bull moved to dismiss those claims, saying: "Adrian is contracted until at least the end of 2025 and we are unaware of him joining any other team."

However, the reigning F1 champions have now released a statement confirming his departure in the first quarter of next year.

Newey has also spoken about his departure, confirming he has fulfilled a childhood dream to design cars.

He also thanked the hierarchy at Red Bull, including Horner who has been team principal throughout his tenure.

Newey said: "Ever since I was a young boy, I wanted to be a designer of fast cars. My dream was to be an engineer in Formula One, and I’ve been lucky enough to make that dream a reality.

"For almost two decades it has been my great honour to have played a key role in Red Bull Racing’s progress from upstart newcomer to multiple title-winning Team.

"However, I feel now is an opportune moment to hand that baton over to others and to seek new challenges for myself.

"In the interim, the final stages of development of RB17 are upon us, so for the remainder of my time with the Team my focus will lie there.

"I would like to thank the many amazing people I have worked with at Red Bull in our journey over the last 18 years for their talent, dedication and hard work.

"It has been a real privilege, and I am confident that the engineering Team are well prepared for the work going into the final evolution of the car under the four-year period of this regulation set.

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"On a personal note, I would also like to thank the shareholders, the late Dietrich Mateschitz, Mark Mateschitz and Chalerm Yoovidhya for their unwavering support during my time at Red Bull, and Christian, who has not only been my business partner but also a friend of our respective families.

"Also, thanks to Oliver Mintzlaff for his stewardship and Eddie Jordan, my close friend and manager."

Speculation over Newey's future first surfaced earlier this year amid the investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour from Horner towards a female colleague. Horner has been cleared of any wrongdoing.

The 50-year-old says Newey leaves as a 'true legend'. Horner said: "All of our greatest moments from the past 20 years have come with Adrian’s hand on the technical tiller. His vision and brilliance have helped us to 13 titles in 20 seasons.

"His exceptional ability to conceptualise beyond F1 and bring wider inspiration to bear on the design of grand prix cars, his remarkable talent for embracing change and finding the most rewarding areas of the rules to focus on, and his relentless will to win have helped Red Bull Racing to become a greater force than I think even the late Dietrich Mateschitz might have imagined.

"More than that, the past 19 years with Adrian have been enormous fun. For me, when Adrian joined Red Bull, he was already a superstar designer.

"Two decades and 13 Championships later he leaves as a true legend. He is also my friend and someone I will be eternally grateful to for everything he brought to our partnership.

"The legacy he leaves behind will echo through the halls of Milton Keynes and RB17 Track Car will be a fitting testament and legacy to his time with us.”