Van der Zande sees a combination deal with Verstappen on offer: ‘That is necessary if Newey still wants to win’

Giedo van der Garde would love to see Adrian Newey at Ferrari in 2025. The former driver assumes that he will not leave alone, and then the question is who else from Red Bull Racing he will take with him. Renger van der Zande thinks that Newey may leave together with Max Verstappen, because he knows he needs a good driver if he still wants to win championships.

“Yes, you know, it’s been haunted there for a while,” Van der Zande begins the DRS: the Race Show podcast when asked about the rumors about Newey’s move to another team. “I think that whole management saga, with Horner, Marko and all that stuff, there’s just something not right there,” the IMSA driver continues. ‘I think Newey is one of those people who says: you know what, I don’t like it anymore, if it doesn’t sit right anymore, I’m gone. If you don’t leave, I’ll leave. And I think that’s somewhere in that corner.’ Van der Zande therefore thinks that it is really about the power struggle that team boss Christian Horner is currently waging with the Austrian side of the team.

In any case, the idea of ​​Newey leaving has caused quite a stir. Some think Red Bull will collapse completely, others doubt how big the impact will be. “Yes, we have to wait and see what kind of people will stay and who will come along,” says Van der Zande. ‘I don’t dare say that, but yes, of course it is a name, he is a legend. That’s a shame to let go.’ Van der Garde agrees with this, but he admits that he also finds it an interesting development. ‘He is a bit fed up with those internal problems at Red Bull. And he’s like: guys, I just want to go to another team. He wants to show one more time that he is the best, and that is great to see.’

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Van der Garde points out that there are two teams that are after him, as suggested Motorsport.com that McLaren and Mercedes will join them. ‘Aston Martin and Ferrari are at the front. Aston has a very large budget and he would receive a huge salary. I’m thinking about that now,” says the former driver. ‘But Ferrari wants him too, of course. I understand that he will talk to those two. Aston Martin has Stroll as backing, who can simply spend a lot of money, and probably also offer fun projects on the side.’ Ferrari is also an option for Newey, then he can end his career with Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc. “I hope he wears red next year,” says Van der Garde.

Van der Zande: ‘He also does not underestimate how important the driver is’

Van der Zande thinks that Newey’s switch could well be a combination deal with Max Verstappen on offer. The Dutchman has said that he is still satisfied with Red Bull, but he would like the key figures to stay in place. “I don’t think he underestimates how important the driver is, especially after what he experienced with Max,” Van der Zande points out. “If he wants to win championships, he needs a rider to do it with. And you know, if Hamilton is back in the zone then he will fight for victories again. If Max now also goes to another team, then that is the team to be with (for Newey, ed.). If you don’t have someone like Max right now, you can’t win championships.”

Van der Zande does not expect a crazy switch from Verstappen, such as to Audi, with which Newey has recently been linked. ‘I think Max will choose a team with which he can win a championship in the short term. Because the bizarre thing about Max is that he can simply choose. He is welcome everywhere. They all know, if Max is in my car, we can win. So he can just choose. He will stay with Red Bull for one more year and then he will choose at the end of next year,” the IMSA driver suspects. “If Newey is gone in 2026, they will have a harder time.” adds Van der Garde. ‘They now have a top car, but if Newey leaves, he will take a few guests with him.’

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