With Adrian Newey reportedly on the verge of leaving Red Bull, what would his potential departure mean for 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Max Verstappen’s F1 future?

It emerged on Thursday that legendary F1 car designer Newey had expressed his desire to leave Red Bull after being “unsettled” by tಌhe controversy surrounding team principal Christian Horner.

Red Bull have been in a state of turbulence since Horner was accused - and cꦬleared - of inappropriate behaviour by a female employee.

There have been reports of a power struggle within Milton Keynes and murm🔯urings that senior staff including Newey are unhappy about the situation.

Speculation has been rife about Versta🐼ppen’s future ever since, not helpe💃d by a falling out between his father, Jos, and Horner at the season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

Relations appear to have imp🌼roved and Verstappen has repeatedly stressed since that he is happy at Red Bull, but argued it is “very important we keep the key people together”.

It is now known that th꧟e three-time world champion has an exit clause in his contract tha𒆙t would enable to leave Red Bull if motorsport advisor and key ally Helmut Marko departed.

According to BBC Sport, Verstappen “is not believed to have the same freedom in the event of Newey leaving”, but it could still lead him to question his future at Red Bulಌl.

The Dutchman, who is tied down to Red Bull until 2028, recently praised Newey’s importance to the team, saying at tꦫhe Japanese Grand Prix: “We have a lot of people workin༒g on the car, so it’s a whole team effort that has to come together.

“Everyone’s ideas get tꦐaken into account and you build the car that we have today. For sure having someone 🌊a part of the team like Adrian is a massive boost for everyone.”

Mercedes ar꧒e bidding to capitalise of the drama unfolding at Red Bull by attemptin𒈔g to lure Verstappen away from the reigning world champions.

Toto Wolff has openly admitted the team would “love” to sign Verstappen as 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Lewis Hamilton’s replacement for 2025, though sucꦫh a move currently seems unlikely given𝄹 the contrasting competitive fortunes of the two teams.

Newey has been heavily linked to join Ferrari but if Mercedes were😼 able to poach him, Verstappen may be more likely to be swayed to join the German manufacturer, even if a switch did not happen until 2026 when new engine regulations come into play.

🅷There have also been rumours that Red Bull may have fallen be🔯hind with their engine project for 2026, though Verstappen has insisted it is too early to be concerned.

Amid all the turmoil and uncertainty facing Red Bul🍷l, Newey leaving would surely be a test of Verstappen's faith in theไ team.