Credits: IMAGO / Marco Canoniero
The 2026 engine-specific regulations reset is right on the horizon but Red Bull tech genius, Adrian Newey is far from impressed. Having won 25 world championships during his illustrious career in F1, Newey has studied the initial layout of the upcoming rule set and is concerned with the direction it will take the sport in. He has even gone as far as deeming it a marketing ploy.
According to GPBlog, the 65-year-old said, “I guess it is what their marketing people said that we should be doing and I understand that: it’s potentially interesting because F1 can be a fast-track developer of technology.”
Newey’s biggest concern with the new power units is the proposed 50-50 distribution between the Internal Combustion Engine and the hybrid system in terms of power output. The Briton believes this would lead to absurd solutions such as running higher revs during tight corners to be able to harvest the battery pack.
Another point of consideration for Newey is how the latest regulations take the ball away from him. The Briton is one of the masters of race-car aerodynamics. However, with the 2026 regulations focused more on the engine than the chassis, this puts him in a tricky corner. There are chances that his designs would be limited by what the PU demands, in terms of design compatibility.
Even Max Verstappen has previously critiqued the general philosophy of the new regulations. Meanwhile, his team boss Christian Horner has called for the FIA to have a second look into them. Despite the concerns within the Red Bull camp, and Newey’s general apprehensions, he is still one of the most sought-after guys in the paddock.
Is Adrian Newey looking for a new challenge in 2026?
As things stand, Newey is a Red Bull man, through and through. His departure wouldn’t also make much sense given how deeply he is invested in the Austrian brand’s hypercar project – the RB17. Hence, it would take a surprising turn of events to lure the 65-year-old away from Milton Keynes.
That, in its entirety, isn’t impossible, though. Reports have been linking the 25-time champion to the likes of Ferrari. With Lewis Hamilton joining the Scuderia in 2025, many believe that Newey may have some interest in making a move to Maranello. Such a move could see him form an iconic partnership with the #44 driver, as he always wanted to do, and end Ferrari’s title drought too.
What makes things even more interesting is the reported distress within the Red Bull camp due to the Christian Horner saga. It may have tipped the scales in Ferrari’s favor, who are also willing to shell out millions, as per reports, to secure a deal with Newey.
Post Edited By:Aishwary Gaonkar
Adrian Newey
Red Bull
About the author
Anirban Aly Mandal
Anirban Aly Mandal is an F1 writer at The SportsRush, with over 1000 articles under his belt, Anirban’s love for F1 started when he discovered a copy of F1 2014 on his computer. With over half a decade’s worth of time spent religiously following the sport, he’s dived deep into the world of motorsports. However, Anirban’s expertise goes beyond just writing – he has also written several academic papers focused on the domain of motorsports and the law. His passion for the sport is so immense that he aspires to work as a legal advisor in the most prestigious racing series in the world someday. When it comes to Formula 1, Anirban finds great pleasure in re-watching classic races and idolizes the likes of Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell, and Sebastian Vettel. His top picks include Brazil ’91, Silverstone ’92, and Germany ’19. Outside of the sport, Anirban is an avid sim racer, often found racing on titles like Assetto Corsa, F1 22, and Automobilista. Apart from his interests in gaming, Anirban has a keen interest in philosophy, literature and music.
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