Newey reveals how ‘one-hit wonder idiot’ moment stops him worrying over F1 future media speculation

Out-going Red Bull technical chief Adrian Newey has explained how he is “relatively oblivious” to the noise around his future, with the wait to find out what the legendary Formula 1 designer will do next rumbling on.

Ever since it was announced that Newey is to leave Red Bull early next year, media have speculated about what the 65-year-old Briton will do next – from switching to a rival team to entering a well-earned retirement.

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Asked during an appearance on Red Bull’s Talking Bull podcast how it’s felt to see his name mentioned across the media so much in recent months, Newey revealed that a situation from his early days in F1 shaped the way he deals with press attention.

“That bit is very easy, because I don’t really read social media or I don’t particularly read magazines – that’s kind of something I stopped doing a long time ago,” he said.

“Back in my Leyton House days, the first car I did was in 1988 – showing my age, obviously! That was a good little car. Then in ’89 we completely messed it up, so I went from being this new hero in the F1 paddock on the engineering side to the idiot who was a one-hit wonder.

“I thought, well really, you can’t read the press when it’s good and then get upset about it when it’s poor, so at that point I sort of said, ‘Okay, just don’t read the press!’”

He added: “Mandy, my wife, she does follow social media. She keeps me roughly informed of what’s going on, but I’m relatively oblivious to it. I just try to lead my life and not be influenced by it.”

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With Newey into the final months of an almost two-decade stay at Red Bull, he also took a moment to reflect on their journey from occasional points scorers to world champions.

Since joining the team in 2006, Newey has played a key role in them achieving more than 100 race wins, six constructors’ titles and seven drivers’ titles – split between Max Verstappen and Sebastian Vettel.

“When I started, really it was with the aspiration and hope that at some point we could win a race,” he commented.

“We won the race with Sebastian in his Toro Rosso in Monza in 2008, but it felt a slightly funny victory because it was our car, but it wasn’t our team. That first [Red Bull] victory in China in 2009 was quite a landmark.

“Then going on to that last race in Abu Dhabi in 2010 and winning the championship against the odds with Sebastian’s drive that weekend, and Ferrari’s mistake on the strategy – that was something I’ll never forget.

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“We had many close championships battles, 2012 went down to the last race as well, where Sebastian got spun around at the first corner and had a massive hole in the bodywork and stuff, but we managed to keep going and got that one.

“Then, of course, [Verstappen’s first title in] 2021, which I think will be talked about for many years. I think of all my years in motor racing, that was the most difficult year.”

In total, Newey-designed cars have won more than 200 Grands Prix, along with 12 constructors’ and 13 drivers’ crowns – taking into account his previous stints at McLaren and Williams.