Christian Horner compares Adrian Newey’s Red Bull exit to Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Manchester United
Christian Horner has compared Adrian Newey's exit from Red Bull to Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Manchester United in 2009.
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Cristian Horner Adrian Newey and Cristiano Ronaldo (images via IMAGO/Goal.com)
Red Bull Racing’s legendary chief technical officer Adrian Newey is leaving the Milton Keynes outfit after an incredible 19-year tenure. He has decided to join Aston Martin as a managing technical partner for his next challenge.
Despite the loss of the aero-genius, team principal Christian Horner remains confident, drawing a parallel to Manchester United’s success after Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure. Horner emphasizes that even with Newey’s exit, Red Bull has the strength to continue winning titles.
Ronaldo was crucial in Manchester United’s success, helping them win major titles like the UEFA Champions League and the Premier League before he left in 2009. However, even after his departure, the club won the Premier League two more times before legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013.
Adrian Newey has been a key figure in Red Bull’s achievements over the years. Christian Horner believes that just as Manchester United kept winning after Ronaldo’s exit, Red Bull can do the same. He acknowledged that they’ll miss Newey’s contributions but is confident their strong team will continue their success.
We’ll look back with great fondness of the time that [Newey] was with us, but life carries on and we’ve got a great team. Adrian came very close to leaving in 2014, and from that moment onwards really we needed to ensure that, if he were to choose to depart, that we were in a position to pick up the mantle and the baton and run with it.
Christian Horner told SkySportF1
Horner shared that Newey almost left Red Bull back in 2014 because he had several offers from rival teams. To keep him, Red Bull offered him a special role where he could explore projects beyond Formula 1, which convinced him to stay. However, this close call made the team understand that they needed to be ready for the day he might decide to move on.
Christian Horner Reflects on Adrian Newey’s Departure and New Role at Aston Martin
Christian Horner revealed that during his time at Red Bull, Adrian Newey worked on various exciting projects beyond Formula 1. That included the Aston Martin Valkyrie and the RB17 hypercar. These roles allowed him to tackle different engineering challenges.
When the Briton decided to join Aston Martin, he was drawn to the increased responsibility and ownership they offered. Horner noted that the 65-year-old would lead Aston Martin, with the entire team reporting to him. This decision shows Newey’s continued motivation and passion for his work.
Obviously he’s been involved in other projects during that period with [the Aston Martin] Valkyrie and now the RB17 [hypercar], so when he chose to go to Aston – to have skin in the game with the shareholding, from what I understand the whole structure is essentially going to report into him.
Christian Horner stated
Newey’s move to Aston Martin marks a new chapter in his career. He will lead the team, focusing on innovative projects while continuing to showcase his exceptional engineering talent.
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Gaurang Kadam
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