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Dutch driver claims Max Verstappen not focusing on Adrian Newey ‘at all anymore’ amidst Red Bull exit rumors

Originally posted on FirstSportz | By Armaan Agarwal | Last updated 4/30/24

Red Bull aero-genius Adrian Newey has been in the news recently. The 65-year-old is rumored to be on his way out of Milton Keynes amidst escalating tensions within the team. Newey’s departure is believed by many to be a big blow to Max Verstappen and the Austrian team. However, Dutch racing driver Tom Coronel has claimed that Verstappen would not be impacted by the Englishman’s exit.

Coronel highlighted that Red Bull had the fastest car on the grid. However, the 52-year-old claimed that Max Verstappen was now working closely with Technical Director Pierre Wache. Tom Coronel went as far as stating that Adrian Newey was not at all the focus of the reigning world champion.

For now, Red Bull still has the fastest car. Verstappen is working with Pierre Wache, which is the man he is currently focusing on. That's not Newey at all anymore. Tom Coronel told RacingNews365

The European Touring Car champion reckoned that Max Verstappen and Wache had a unique bond at Red Bull and had spotted them constantly talking in the past. Certainly, this might be a major factor in Red Bull’s reluctance of retaining Newey if the aero-genius does switch ship after his current contract expires.

When I was at Red Bull, I saw that there was a whole different click with Pierre and they were constantly talking. Tom Coronel stated

Tom Coronel wants Adrian Newey to do ‘nice things’ outside F1

Adrian Newey is regarded as perhaps the best car designer in the history of Formula 1. The Briton has been instrumental in several triumphs in the sport with Williams, McLaren and Red Bull. Newey helped build the energy drinks giant as a top F1 team since he joined Milton Keynes in 2005. The 65-year-old’s designs have led to all of Red Bull’s titles including Max Verstappen’s three back-to-back championships.

Tom Coronel claimed that at 65, it was time for the aero-genius to do nice things apart from F1. Citing the Ferrari rumors of a massive paycheck, Coronel believed that it would not matter for Adrian Newey to work till 70 with another $100 million. As such, the 65-year-old might be more inclined to retiring from the sport.

Thank you! You're 65 too, go do nice things with your life," he says of the legendary F1 designer, before adding: "You'll have the 100 million, and then what? You've worked until you're 70... he doesn't care about the dough at all anymore, he really doesn't care about that last hundred. Tom Coronel insisted

Adrian Newey is yet to officially comment on rumors regarding his Red Bull exit. However, there have been reports of Ferrari and Mercedes being interested in signing the aero-genius. As such, fans would need to wait to see if Newey decides to join a rival squad in the coming years. Or if the Briton simply decides to step back from his long and successive career.

This article first appeared on FirstSportz and was syndicated with permission.

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