Van Haren pricks up his ears: ‘I hear from people within Red Bull that Newey’s influence is zero’

Former driver Christijan Albers thinks it is ridiculous that there is already so much speculation about what the teams will be like in 2026. Albers criticizes the stories circulating about the Red Bull Racing and Ford engine. If Red Bull loses its dominance, it will be due to several factors, including the loss of Adrian Newey. Erik van Haren hears from people within the team that Newey’s influence on the current car is zero.

While it is quiet on the track between the Grands Prix of China and Miami, there is quite a bit going on off the track. There is a lot of speculation about how competitive the teams will be when the new regulations come into effect in 2026, with the Red Bull-Ford engine in particular being a topic of discussion. According to some in the paddock, the Austrian racing team’s power source is not as good as that of Mercedes or Ferrari, and they are lagging behind. Team boss Christian Horner quashed those rumors by indicating that they are just running on schedule and they are seeing the performance they want to see.

Because it is impossible to know where the teams will be in two years’ time, it is difficult for the drivers to time the switch to another team well. ‘I think everyone is bluffing about that engine. We are talking about 2026,” says Albers the Formula 1 podcast from De Telegraaf. ‘They don’t know each other’s assets. Then it is said that Mercedes will have a great engine. If you look at the engine that was built then (in 2014, ed.), you really had a fantastic team there. Now half of them are with Red Bull and other teams. Then it is easy to say that they are going to build a bad engine,” says Albers.

Van Haren doubts Newey’s influence

If Red Bull loses its dominance in 2026, it will be due to several factors, according to the former driver. ‘If Newey leaves, you will lose someone very important. I can still see him taking such a step. What has happened is that certain women are not fond of the issue with Horner, I am convinced of that,” Albers continues. According to the former driver, it would have an impact on Red Bull, and if Newey leaves, it could also influence Max Verstappen’s choice.

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‘Making a switch in 2026 or 2027 would be a logical moment. It’s a gamble for every driver. I can’t rule it out. If it stays calm, he will stay too.’ There is currently speculation that Newey will go to Mercedes, Aston Martin or Ferrari. ‘Aston Martin is still an option. I think if he leaves, a lot of people won’t even mind. I hear from people within the team that his influence on the car is zero,” said F1 journalist Erik van Haren.

Reasons for leaving vary

The reasons given for Newey’s departure from Red Bull vary considerably. One reports that he is done with the power struggle going on behind the scenes, which Albers already raised at the end of 2023, the other indicates that it is a personal matter regarding the case surrounding Horner that was brought to light at the beginning of February. If he leaves, Red Bull still has a talented group engineers who trained Newey for years.

If the rumors are correct and Newey indeed announces that he is leaving soon, he can join three teams. Ferrari wants to offer 100 million for four years, but Aston Martin even 200 for four years. Mercedes may hope for a combination deal, with Verstappen also on offer. Many fear that Newey will not leave alone, and that he will also take the three-time world champion with him. Red Bull is probably further away from home. It remains to be seen whether it is just a storm in a teacup or not.

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