Adrian Newey has had a remarkably successful career in Formula 1, contributing to at least one championship—either driver or constructor—at every team he has worked for, with the sole exception of Leyton House.
After an immensely successful period at Red Bull, where he helped secure eight driver titles and six constructor titles, Newey has now moved on to Aston Martin, officially beginning his new role just a few days ago.
With his departure, there are many uncertainties about how Red Bull will perform without their legendary car designer. The team has only gone through one season without Newey in its history, which resulted in a disappointing seventh-place finish in the constructor standings.
Newey has played a key role in designing title-winning cars for six different Formula 1 champions: Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve, Sebastian Vettel, and Max Verstappen. Notably, none of the first five drivers managed to win another championship after parting ways with him.
Historically, every driver who has won a world title with a car designed by Newey has been unable to secure another championship without his expertise.
Max Verstappen has firmly established himself as one of the greatest drivers in Formula 1. While his championships have been achieved with dominant cars, he has also demonstrated his ability to win under fierce competition, as seen in the 2021 and 2024 seasons.
Much of Verstappen’s success is due to his exceptional skill, proving that he can triumph even without the fastest car. Heading into the 2025 season, early testing results indicate that Red Bull is likely to have the second or third quickest car on the grid.
If rivals like Lando Norris of McLaren and Charles Leclerc of Ferrari struggle with consistency, Verstappen could still capitalize and take control of the championship with a competitive car. However, predicting this season’s outcome with certainty remains difficult.
Looking beyond 2025, Verstappen may not stay at Red Bull beyond the next two years. If he decides to leave before the 2027 season, top teams across the grid will likely compete to secure his services.
Should he move to another team, Verstappen will likely choose a contender that has already established a strong understanding of car development under the new regulations.
Nonetheless, Verstappen’s status in Formula 1 has risen significantly in recent years, giving him a major advantage. That leverage may allow him to break the long-standing trend of drivers failing to win championships after leaving a Newey-designed car.
