Max Verstappen should try to convince legendary designer Adrian Newey to stay at Red Bull, says Sky Sports F1’s Jenson Button.
Last week it emerged that Newey had informally communicated to his senior Red Bull colleagues his desire to end his almost two-decade association with the current world champion team.
Verstappen has won three straight drivers’ titles in Newey-designed cars and is on track to make it a fourth straight after winning four of the first five races of 2024 ahead of this weekend’s Miami Grand Prix.
Button that will be part of it Sky Sports F1 team in Miami said in the latest episode of the Sky Sports F1 Podcast that Verstappen may be underestimating his potential influence on Newey.
“I don’t think it bothers Max. He’s pretty focused on the task at hand,” Button said.
“I think someone like Max will still be around in three or four years? We don’t know that either. But if he wants to race in Formula 1 and he still wants the great Adrian Newey to work on his car and develop it further, it’s a big deal for a driver to go to a team boss or chief designer and spend time with them to spend. Most drivers wouldn’t do that.
“I think it would be really, really good for Max, or whoever his future teammate is, to actually spend time with Adrian and sit down with him and just go through the reasons why he might or might not want to be around .” be around.”
Newey has worked at Red Bull since 2006 and was a central figure in their eventual rise to F1 superpower status. He was instrumental in developing the cars that helped the team win all 13 world championship titles.
Button continued: “Drivers don’t realize how much pull they have in a team. They think they will do the driving, the PR work and the technical meetings, but the appeal they have in a team is huge,” especially someone like Max.
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Speaking on the Sky Sports F1 Podcast, 2009 world champion Jenson Button said he doesn’t expect any problems between Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at Ferrari next season
“And it’s just the human aspect of spending time with key people on the team who might be thinking about leaving the team, spending time with them and working out reasons why. And maybe you can work it out with that person.”
“And I think that’s something that drivers don’t realize, but I think they’re starting to realize a little bit more, the power that they have not only in the world of Formula 1 and on social media, but also within a team and in leading a team. “Bringing people together and building a great team of people around you.”
“Newey’s departure could damage the Red Bull atmosphere”
Newey’s possible exit, which would send shockwaves across Formula 1 if it actually materializes, comes at a time of ongoing turmoil at Red Bull after the Austrian parent company conducted an investigation earlier this year into allegations of inappropriate behavior by a colleague against team boss Christian Horner.
The complaint against Horner, who has always denied the claims, was dismissed on February 28. The woman who filed the complaint has since appealed the outcome.
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Sky Sports News’ Craig Slater explains that Adrian Newey could potentially leave Red Bull and join Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari in the future
Button says Newey’s departure could “damage the atmosphere at Red Bull” but does not expect it to have an immediate impact on performance.
“If he’s not happy, it’s a shame because they’re in such a good position performance-wise at the moment, Red Bull,” Button said. “But it’s probably a good thing for the sport if we see it somewhere else and give another team a chance.”
“The problem is that it takes years to develop a car. It won’t happen overnight, and I don’t think he’ll be allowed to work with another team for a few years. I read something that said he would have to take up gardening leave until 2027.
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Sky F1’s Damon Hill and Karun Chandhok discuss Max Verstappen’s long-term future and the possibility of him moving to Ferrari at some point in his career
“So I guess it won’t really help the team until 2029, which is still a long way off. But it’s obviously hurting Red Bull and it’s probably hurting the atmosphere in the team a little bit, knowing that the Major.” The guy in the team who develops this wonderful car year after year is not happy and wants to leave.
“I don’t know if that’s true. I haven’t heard it from anyone here so I can’t say it one way or the other, but it’s definitely a big story, the biggest story Formula 1 has ever seen in a little while.”
“Max will end his career at Red Bull”
Newey’s possible departure is likely to spark fresh speculation about Verstappen’s future, with the Dutchman having already been linked with a move to Mercedes.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said he would “love” to sign Verstappen as a replacement for Ferrari-bound Lewis Hamilton, and just recently at the Chinese Grand Prix he admitted he was “waiting” for a decision from the Red Bull driver. .
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Jenson Button discusses whether Adrian Newey’s departure from Red Bull could have an impact on Max Verstappen’s future with the team. You can listen to the latest episode of the Sky Sports F1 podcast now
However, Button assumes that Verstappen will stay at Red Bull.
“Max won’t go, he doesn’t have to go,” said Button.
“He’s in such a strong position right now. Personally, I have a feeling that Max will end his career at Red Bull Taurus.
“It’s exciting for us when a driver says he’s going to go and he’s already in the best car and he’s a three-time world champion, then he says, ‘Yeah, that’s great.’
“But it’s exciting. These years we will be talking about decades of Max Verstappen, the great, and Red Bull.”
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Sky Sports F1’s live Miami GP schedule
Thursday, May 2nd
6.30 p.m.: Drivers’ press conference
Friday, May 3rd
3:00 p.m.: F1 Academy Training 1
5:00 p.m.: First Miami GP practice (session starts at 5:30 p.m.)
8:20 p.m.: F1 Academy Training 2
9:00 p.m.: Miami GP Sprint Qualifying (session starts at 9:30 p.m.)
Saturday, May 4th
3:25 p.m.: F1 Academy qualification
4:00 p.m.: Miami GP Sprint (race starts at 5:00 p.m.)
6:30 p.m.: Ted’s sprint notebook
7:05 p.m.: F1 Academy Race 1
8:00 p.m.: Miami GP qualifying preparation*
9:00 p.m.: Miami GP Qualifying*
11:00 p.m.: Ted’s Qualification Notebook*
Sunday, May 5th
6:05 p.m.: F1 Academy Race 2
7:30 p.m.: Preparation for the Grand Prix Sunday Miami GP*
9 p.m.: The MIAMI GRAND PRIX*
11 p.m.: Checkered flag: Miami GP reaction*
Midnight: Ted’s Notebook*
*also live on Sky Sports Main Event
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