The Formula 1 world is eagerly awaiting news of Adrian Newey's future plans.
At 65, Newey is widely regarded as the most renowned and in-demand technical guru and car designer in the history of F1. He has recently negotiated to phase out his role at Red Bull and announced his intention to take a break, admitting he is "tired."
In a new discussion with his manager and friend Eddie Jordan, Newey hinted he would "probably go again" in Formula 1 at some stage.
Currently, he is rumored to be considering offers from several top teams, including Ferrari, Aston Martin, and possibly Mercedes or Williams.
"I respect him immensely," James Vowles, the Williams boss, stated at Imola. He had earlier revealed in Miami two weeks ago that he had spoken with Newey about a potential comeback to the Grove-based team. "I spoke to him about how Williams is the place to be again," Vowles remarked with a smile. "We've paused the talks for now, as he's not in a hurry."
"There are some bigger players out there too who also want him."
While Ferrari's chief, Frederic Vasseur, has been somewhat hesitant to confirm their interest in Newey, Lewis Hamilton expressed in Miami his strong desire to work with his fellow Brit once he dons the red in 2025 and beyond.
At Imola, Charles Leclerc also responded to queries about the Newey-to-Ferrari speculation. "Everyone in the paddock wants someone like Adrian," he acknowledged. "Having him would be an added value, an opportunity."
"Now we'll see if we can get him or not."
Leclerc concurred with Vasseur that Ferrari is on its way back to the top of Formula 1, even without Newey's help. "As a team we are the ones who have improved the most in the last seven or eight months," he noted. "But, yes, Adrian is one of those engineers who you want to work with one day in your career."
"We know each other, we talk to each other, so far we haven't gone into details because he was at Red Bull, but in the future we'll see if we can work together."
Initially, after Miami, Red Bull consultant Dr. Helmut Marko thought Newey might join a team wearing "green" - but later changed his guess to "red."
Fernando Alonso, who races for Aston Martin in green, shared his thoughts on Newey at Imola. "I've always wanted to work with him."
"I think he is one of the best Formula 1 has ever had - a true legend of the sport. I've always expressed my admiration for him."
"We'll see what he does in the future," Alonso concluded.
