Red Bull chief Christian Horner could be dealt another major blow amid reports top dog Adrian Newey is quitting the team, with sporting director Jonathan Wheatley also eyeing an exit.
The Milton Keynes-based squad might be smashing it on the track, but they’re in a right pickle behind the scenes. The Times claim that Wheatley, 56, is itching to take the helm of his own team and is sussing out his options.
The news comes after McLaren chief executive Zak Brown warned that Newey’s exit could spark an exodus of staff from the Formula 1 champions. According to the Mirror, Brown didn’t mince his words, saying: “I think the stuff that’s going on there, it’s a bit destabilising.
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“[Newey is] probably the first domino to fall. My guess is it’s not the last based on the resumes that are flying around. We’ve seen an increase in CVs coming our way from the team.”
But Wheatley’s not out the door just yet. Horner’s clinging on tight to the man who’s turned Red Bull’s pit stop crew into a well-oiled machine, the fastest in the biz. And let’s not forget all the other feathers in Wheatley’s cap. His knowledge of the sporting regulations is unmatched and, on many occasions, he has successfully used those rules to argue his team’s case in disputes.
Horner will see Wheatley as a key player behind the scenes at the team, in the same category as the likes of technical director Pierre Waché, who is set to step out of Newey’s shadow when the 65-year-old leaves the team early next year.
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Wache is just one of the big names at Red Bull Racing who’ve recently put pen to paper on fresh deals, joining the likes of aerodynamics wizard Enrico Balbo and performance engineering maestro Ben Waterhouse.
As for Newey’s next chapter, Horner reckons the design ace will take a well-deserved breather from the F1 frenzy before even thinking about diving into a new venture. He shared: “[Adrian] has been hard at it for the past 30 years, seven years at Williams, seven years at McLaren and the best part of 20 years with ourselves, speaking with him we have reached the point where the team is in great shape and performing at such a high level.”
“He felt that now was the time to take a break. I think he’s going to take some time out first. He’s 65 years of age and I think he’s earned that right to have a bit of time out, spend some time with his wife and family. That’s what he’s very keen to do. If he decides he wants to have another run at F1, who knows? “.