© Jiri Krenek for Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.
BBC’s Andrew Benson reports “high-level sources” have said that Adrian Newey’s “lawyers are securing an early exit and he will be free to start work [at a different team] from next year”.
While the F1 world is waiting for the official announcement of Adrian Newey’s departure from Red Bull, which is expected to come out ahead of the Miami Grand Prix, BBC is now reporting that Newey’s lawyers are working hard to negotiate an early exit from his contract.
The Briton’s current deal runs to the end of 2025 and reportedly includes a one-year non-compete clause, which would prevent him from starting work at another team until 2027, well into the new F1 regulations that will be introduced in 2026.
However, BBC’s Andrew Benson reports that his lawyers expect to be able to bypass this clause.
“Leading designer Adrian Newey is negotiating an exit from Red Bull that would leave him free to join another team in early 2025, BBC Sport has learned,” Benson wrote.
“The early departure of the man regarded as F1’s greatest ever designer from the world champions is to be announced within days following negotiations over his contract.
“A spokesperson for Red Bull said: ‘We don’t have any comment at this time.’
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“Newey’s next team is not yet decided but Ferrari are hot favourites to sign him.
“The 65-year-old’s contract as Red Bull’s chief technical officer runs to the end of 2025 and is said to include a 12-month ‘non-compete clause’ that theoretically should have precluded him starting work for another team until 2027.
“But his lawyers are securing an early exit and he will be free to start work from next year, high-level sources close to Red Bull and Newey have said.
“The early exit from his Red Bull contract allows Newey to be in place at any team for which he signs in time to start work on their 2026 car – a crucial step,” the Briton concluded.
It is expected that Newey’s next destination will be Ferrari, Mercedes, Aston Martin or McLaren.
