The esteemed Formula 1 designer has played a crucial role in Red Bull’s recent triumphs, collaborating closely with technical director Pierre Wache and his team on the development of the new RB20 car.
While Newey’s primary role as chief technical officer extends beyond F1 to encompass other projects, he remains deeply involved in ensuring Red Bull maximizes its performance on the track despite not being a full-time member of the F1 operation.
Although Newey was present at the season’s first two races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, his planned absence from the upcoming Australian Grand Prix sparked speculation about a potential scaling back of his duties.
Rumors even surfaced suggesting a potential shift to focus exclusively on Red Bull’s RB17 hypercar project, purportedly due to concerns over F1’s budget cap constraints and internal team politics.
However, sources close to the matter have refuted these speculations, affirming that Newey’s role remains unchanged. As work progresses on the RB20, he is slated to return trackside for the Japanese Grand Prix next month as scheduled.
Despite persistent speculation about his future in F1, Newey remains as committed as ever to delivering success in the championship. Addressing the topic earlier this year, he emphasized that his only contemplation of stepping back occurred in 2014, during a challenging period for Red Bull’s power unit.
“I joined Red Bull to build a technical team,” Newey remarked. “It was a career risk, but I wanted to be involved in the team’s development from the outset. So, having been part of the initial stages and worked closely with Christian and Helmut [Marko] on the team’s evolution, there was no reason for me to walk away from that.”
He recalled the challenging period in 2014 when Red Bull faced engine performance issues, noting the lack of investment from the manufacturer in addressing the situation. Despite such setbacks, Newey’s dedication to the sport and his role within the team remains unwavering.
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