Adrian Newey Reflects on Frustrations with Renault Amid Horner's Book Release

Adrian Newey, the renowned designer who worked alongside Christian Horner for 18 years at Red Bull, has offered his take on claims made in Horner’s memoir, _Drive_. Newey expressed his "pain and frustration" about the period when Red Bull was struggling against the dominant Mercedes team in the mid-2010s, largely due to Renault's engine issues.

Christian Horner's book has been making waves, especially with his assertion that Newey was ready to jump ship at the first sign of trouble at Red Bull. While Horner praised Newey’s contributions, he noted the designer's readiness to leave during tough times.

Red Bull had been using Renault engines since 2008, but by the time the new power units were introduced in 2014, it became evident that they were lagging behind competitors like Mercedes and Ferrari. Red Bull eventually transitioned to Honda engines in 2019, following a frustrating period where Renault showed little inclination to resolve their shortcomings.

When questioned about Horner’s book in Austin, Newey admitted, "No, I haven’t read any of it yet." He elaborated on the challenges faced in 2014, stating, "If the PU manufacturer has a bad year and doesn’t appear to have any intention of trying to address the problem, that’s quite bleak." This bleakness persisted until Red Bull switched to Honda, marking the end of a seven-year championship drought.

Newey acknowledged that Horner might not have fully grasped the depth of his frustrations during that time. Despite this, Newey emphasized their enduring friendship, noting his role as godfather to Horner's daughter, Olivia.

Throughout his tenure at Red Bull, Newey's designs were instrumental in securing 14 Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championships. He has since moved to Aston Martin as the managing technical partner in early 2025.