Christian Horner Criticizes Aston Martin for Premature Announcement of Adrian Newey’s Transfer

Red Bull team principal Christian Horner has expressed his disapproval of Aston Martin’s decision to hold a press conference to announce the upcoming transfer of legendary F1 designer Adrian Newey, despite him still being under contract with Red Bull.

Ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Aston Martin hosted a press conference at their new factory in Silverstone, England, to officially announce Newey’s move, which is set to take place on March 1, 2025.

The press conference, attended by team owner Lawrence Stroll, drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, and other executives, was broadcast live worldwide, sparking criticism from Horner.

Horner stated, “The Aston announcement was a big deal… They celebrated him, but it might be a bit premature given that his contract with Red Bull Racing has not expired.”

Newey, who has already left Red Bull’s F1 project, remains under contract and is still paid by the team. Horner acknowledged that while he is not surprised by Newey’s decision to join Aston Martin, the team will miss him and wishes him success in his new role.

Horner reflected on his nearly 20 years of working with Newey, saying, “As I look back fondly on our time together and the ups and downs of that time, I look forward to the future of this team and I think we are ready for it.”

He also highlighted Newey’s unique working style, noting that Aston Martin will need time to adapt to his creative approach. “Adrian is a really creative guy. He’s not your average designer… Aston will naturally seek to leverage its wealth of experience.”

Related Topics

• Formula 1
• Aston Martin
• Red Bull Racing
• Adrian Newey
• Christian Horner