Red Bull Formula 1 boss Christian Horner says Adrian Newey staying with team ‘for many years to come’

Christian Horner dismisses hypothesis over Adrian Newey’s Red Bull future; experiences claimed the chief technical officer’s contract was up for renewal; Horner additionally expresses confidence over reigning world champion Max Verstappen’s future in Formula 1

Red Bull boss Christian Horner says Adrian Newey will probably be with the team “for many years to come” amid hypothesis over his chief technical officer’s future.

Newey is extensively thought of as one among Formula 1’s prime minds and has performed an important function in designing the Red Bull vehicles which have enabled Max Verstappen to win successive world championships, with their present RB19 having made a dominant begin to the 2023 marketing campaign.

Reports emerged in March claiming that Newey’s contract is up for renewal, however Horner dismissed any suggestion the 64-year-old may exit the team.

“His heart is still very much in Formula 1 and his commitment to the team is, it’s not something…” Horner informed Sky Sports News.

“We don’t talk about contracts or longevity of contracts, but he’ll be here for many years to come.

Newey has performed a key function in designing Red Bull’s championship-winning vehicles

“There’s at all times going to be rumours on this paddock, that is Formula 1.”

Newey has enjoyed a remarkable career in F1 which is now spanning across a fifth decade, having helped design championship-winning cars at Williams and McLaren before joining Red Bull in 2005.

Along with his brilliance in F1, Newey has embraced the opportunity to work on other Red Bull projects, notably on the company’s America’s Cup sailing outfit.

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Craig Slater breaks down how Formula 1 teams will take advantage of the four-week schedule gap between races in Australia and Azerbaijan

“He’s such an essential a part of our team and well-liked a part of our team,” Horner added.

“It’s nice to have him with us for the long run, but in addition to be concerned in a number of the issues we’re now getting concerned in.”

‘Verstappen not going to be like Alonso’

Horner also addressed Verstappen’s future in F1, which has been a topic of speculation after recent comments about ‘quitting’ the sport.

The 25-year-old Dutchman has previously hinted that he is unlikely to race beyond the conclusion of his current Red Bull contract, which expires at the end of the 2028 season, while he recently suggested that changes to the sport’s format could prompt him to walk away even earlier.

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Max Verstappen wins a thrilling Australian Grand Prix with Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso joining him on the podium

While Horner admitted he doesn’t see Verstappen emulating two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, who has embarked on a 2023 campaign with Aston Martin at the age of 41, he doesn’t expect to lose his star driver any time soon.

“Max is his personal man and he is very, very sturdy in his opinions and on his outlook on what he needs to do in his life,” Horner said. “And I do not see him being a Fernando Alonso and nonetheless racing at 41 or 42 years of age, or perhaps not in Formula 1, however what his love and keenness is, is racing.

“If he’s not racing on track at the moment, he’s racing in the virtual world, he’s driving GT cars for fun, and his passion is just driving and racing, and while that burns within him, he’s going to keep going.

“But how lengthy that burns for, that is every particular person’s personal journey, they have to discover that out for themselves.”

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On the latest episode of the Sky Sports F1 Podcast Simon Lazenby examines the pros and cons of the Sprint race weekends

Despite having made a strong start to his quest for a third successive drivers’ title by winning two of the first three races of the season, Verstappen has gone on record to say that the current 24-race calendar is “far too many”.

Horner added: “23 races is a brutal calendar and it is robust.

“It’s tough for the drivers, it’s tougher for the mechanics that are travelling at the beginning of the week and returning on a Monday after an event.

“It is a brutal calendar and it does take its toll in some unspecified time in the future.”

The Formula 1 season resumes with the Azerbaijan Grand Prix from April 28-30, with the primary Sprint weekend of 2023 proven in full dwell on Sky Sports F1. Watch Saturday’s Sprint at 2:30pm and Sunday’s race at 12pm. Get Sky Sports