Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said Aston Martin were “slightly premature” in arranging a major event to announce Adrian Newey as their new chief designer.
Horner pointed out Newey is still under contract to Red Bull until the beginning of next year.“It was obviously a large announcement by Aston,” said Horner. “Adrian has always tended to do his own thing.
“Obviously it was a big moment for that team, they chose to celebrate it perhaps potentially slightly prematurely before he has finished his contract with Red Bull Racing.”
Red Bull announced four months ago that Newey would leave them at the end of the season after 18 years at the team. Although Newey was tipped to join Ferrari at one stage, Horner said his decision to join Aston Martin “wasn’t a great surprise.”
“I think it was becoming clearer and clearer that was the route that he was going to go rather than into retirement or any other team,” he said.
“Obviously it will be a new challenge for him and it will be sad to see when he leaves next year but we wish him all the best for the future.”
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Red Bull have won six constructors’ championship during Newey’s time at the team, while their drivers have won seven titles. Horner said he has fond memories of their time working together.
“Adrian is obviously a very creative guy and he is not your average designer,” he said. “I think he is the only person still in Formula 1 working on a drawing board. Inevitably there will be a process of having to get to know each other and how each other works and so on.
“He is unique in many respects, and I think that Aston will obviously look to draw upon his huge experience.
“I look back with great fondness to the time, the 20 years almost that we spent together, the highs and lows during that period, but look forward to the future and I think we are well positioned for that.”
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RBAlonso (@rbalonso)
13th September 2024, 14:42
The usual grace expected from Horner.
Horner presumably thinks Red Bull’s announcement that they were signing Newey in November 2005 was premature given he was under contract to McLaren until February 2006 (a contract he had extended as recently as April 2005).
Doh
13th September 2024, 14:48
Haha thanks for that, wonder if he will get this pointed out to him. Ever the sore loser, or even sore winner sometimes
Broderick Harper (@banbrorace)
13th September 2024, 15:23
Considering he’s got zero personality – he has probably forgotten that.
Zak and Toto have their faults, but I have a feeling if you had a drink with them – they wouldn’t spend all their time talking down to you.
SteveP
13th September 2024, 15:24
Obviously, the rules are only applicable one way.
Horner does seem to go out of his way to give people reasons to dislike him. Deliberate, or natural tallent?
Tommy Scragend
13th September 2024, 15:55
Two wrongs don’t make a right.
It is premature – announce that Newey has signed by all means, but they shouldn’t be parading him around with the Aston drivers and standing in front of one of their cars before he is their employee and while he is still contracted to another team. At least they didn’t have him wearing Aston team colours.
It’s been known since very early in the year that Hamilton is going to Ferrari, but you won’t see him at a Ferrari press conference until his contract with Mercedes is up.
j sc
13th September 2024, 16:17
Well said.
Doh
13th September 2024, 17:24
Because Lewis is driving for Mercedes every race weekend. Adrian has essentially left and doesn’t work on the car anymore.
Dale
13th September 2024, 23:09
What is so difficult for you to understand about the point Horner is making?
Suggest you go look elsewhere within motorsport to see where personnel under contract have been allowed to participate in events for their new team / employer before their contracts were up, and under what specific conditions those were allowed.
Suggest you Google what happened with Alonso a few years back at the end of season test, or what regularly happens at the post final race test in MotoGP – where riders are given permission to test with their ‘new’ teams but always in unbranded leathers on bikes that carry no sponsorship or branding.
Newey, while still under contact, still represents all of the Red Bull sponsors and partners … so to have him appearing at an event surrounded by competitive brands is a conflict or interest and a breach of contract.
If Horner wanted to, he could make a lot more of that breach.
Sometimes it’s better if you fully understand what you’re talking about before you take your ignorance public …
Nick T.
14th September 2024, 1:48
Yeah, sure he could, Dale.
Nick T.
14th September 2024, 1:51
PS – talking about a public display of ignorance is rich when you have zero access to the fine print. Moreover, it was RBR themselves who told us months ago that Newey could announce his future plans beginning on Sept. 1. So, sometimes it’s better if you fully understand your lack of totally equal or greater lack of understanding before you take your ignorance public.
RBAlonso (@rbalonso)
14th September 2024, 11:16
I don’t normally reply to acrid comments Dale, and I sincerely hope you are alright.
Do you honestly think that between Stroll, an experienced businessman, Newey and Jordan, both who have been in motor racing for 40 years would fall foul to an out of contract presentation? Newey’s start date is March, he’s legally required to have 6 months gardening leave which means his F1 contract expired on the 1st of September. This is the first GP since then, hence the announcement.
Drivers tend to own their image rights, which is why there is a sponsorship conflict. Red Bull are unlikely to own the image rights of a mid 60s engineer who normally wears casual clothes at the few races he attends. So by contract and by personal image rights he is clear to do this. Red Bull can’t tell him what to do on annual leave. If I work at a bank, am I not allowed to be photographed near a rival bank?
If you are privy to paddock knowledge on the contracts please share it. For my money this is simply Horner up to his old tricks of thinly veiled criticisms as he did with Renault and Vettel when they left. I suspect if he had a legal challenge, he wouldn’t mention it.
Sham (@sham)
13th September 2024, 14:57
I do hope that bitter pill doesn’t choke you, Mr Horner.
Dale
13th September 2024, 23:10
Sometimes it’s better if you fully understand what you’re talking about before you take your ignorance public …
Nick T.
14th September 2024, 2:02
You seem pretty bitter yourself.
Tifoso1989 (@tifoso1989)
13th September 2024, 15:10
Keith has been spot on with regard to choosing the right picture to the article !
Broderick Harper (@banbrorace)
13th September 2024, 15:20
LOL!! x100.
I was just thinking that. I wonder if it was taken just after the announcement, of that, er, investigation earlier this year.
Sonny Crockett (@sonnycrockett)
13th September 2024, 19:56
I think that’s his “quick, the wife’s coming” photo…
Nick T
14th September 2024, 2:04
+1 Well done, @keith
Broderick Harper (@banbrorace)
13th September 2024, 15:19
LOL!! I see that now RB have a bit of competition Christian is back to his normal graceless self.
Dale
13th September 2024, 23:11
Sometimes it’s better if you fully understand what you’re talking about before you take your ignorance public …
Nick T.
14th September 2024, 2:06
Dale is making a bid to become the new Simon of RF.com.
Edvaldo
13th September 2024, 15:26
If he’s not allowed to work until sometime in the next season, who cares?
What an unbearable man Horner is.
Mr B
13th September 2024, 15:57
Is the gardening leave policed in any way?
Obviously you can’t stop Newey from thinking and planning in his own head about what plans he may have for AM. Can AM supply him with any information about their facilities etc?
I did find it a bit odd that Newey was at the AM factory whilst still employed by Red Bull, wouldn’t he need expressed permission from RB for that?
Effwon (@effwon)
13th September 2024, 15:47
Little boy Horner
Red Bull’s chief scorner,
Ejecting his toys from the pram;
His morals still screwy,
Just lost Adrian Newey,
“See what a sore loser I am!”
Broderick Harper (@banbrorace)
13th September 2024, 15:50
LOL!! Very good
SteveP
13th September 2024, 16:46
That really, really, really ought to be CotD – or possibly of the week.
Sonny Crockett (@sonnycrockett)
13th September 2024, 19:57
Do you work for Sky TV?!
Just a joke. Very good indeed!
David BR (@david-br)
13th September 2024, 16:51
the brace position?
AlanD
13th September 2024, 18:54
I think Red Bull are right to be irritated. There is nothing wrong with making the announcement, that happens every year with drivers and key tech staff, but what they can’t do is go to the factory and take part in PR events while still on the payroll of their current team. You my remember there was a similar outcry some years back when Button jumped ship to McLaren and did a PR event for them before his contract was up with Brawn at the end of the year. I’m sure it would be just as true in your own job. Try telling your own employer that you are going to work for a day at one of your main competitors. They will not be happy! And PR events are still work, it is all part of the chase for sponsorship.
DMC
13th September 2024, 21:32
Well said. Don’t see a problem with Horner.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
13th September 2024, 22:05
Indeed, I don’t really understand the horner complaints, I think it’s more people not liking him in general and finding the slightest bit of a reason to complain about him; I do and I don’t mind what he said here.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
13th September 2024, 22:07
He also said “they chose to celebrate it perhaps potentially slightly prematurely”, which includes “perhaps”, “potentially”, “slightly”, 3 words in a single sentence to minimize the criticism on newey.
Esploratore (@esploratore1)
13th September 2024, 22:07
He also said “they chose to celebrate it perhaps potentially slightly prematurely”, which includes “perhaps”, “potentially”, “slightly”, 3 words in a single sentence to minimize the criticism on newey.
Tristan (@skipgamer)
14th September 2024, 0:11
Weird so many people are jumping to Horner’s defence, Newey has been out of the Formula 1 team as he says since Suzuka. He’s been extremely good to Horner with how he’s answered every question about why he left.
Perhaps, potentially, slightly, indeed.
Nick T.
14th September 2024, 8:38
Horner has also gotten, IMO, an unfair amount of hate this season and that’s saying something since he and Toto are the most perennially bashed figures on the grid. So, I can appreciate why some are a bit defensive. But, personally, I agree his comment was unproductive here.