How unheralded F1 hero has more titles that Hamilton, Verstappen and Alonso COMBINED as he hints at retirement
AMID all the celebration over Red Bull’s 100th win and Max Verstappen equalling Ayrton Senna’s record of 41 victories, there was a wonderful humble interview with Adrian Newey.
Much was made about Verstappen being on the podium with fellow multiple champions Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton.
Combined they have a total of 11 world titles, but to their right stood a man who has designed cars that have won 13 titles.
With Red Bull’s victory in Canada, he can now lay claim to having designed F1 cars that have achieved an incredible 200 wins.
“It’s been an amazing journey,” said Newey. “My dream always from a kid was to be in engineering and motor racing.
“So when I got my first job in motor racing and got my first salary, that was really the big moment. Everything else has been a bonus.”
Newey’s first job in F1 came in 1988 when he was signed as chief designer for the March f1 team.
But his first win came at the 1991 Mexican GP with Nigel Mansell’s first place for Williams.
He added: “They’re [the wins] obviously all special. The ones that of course stand out are the first one in Mexico, and then the ones where the championship has gone down to the wire.
“You can argue that is the end of the championship, so, of course, it’s that race – Abu Dhabi with Sebastian [Vettel] against Fernando, 2010] and then Max against Lewis [Hamilton, 2021].”
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The crucial part of the interview on Sky F1 came when he was asked about when he would call time on his career.
Newey is now 64 and he gave a surprising answer, saying the “countdown” to his F1 retirement had “realistically” started.
He said: “I’m lucky enough to be doing what I have always wanted to do and enjoy the job. I’ve loved it.
“Of course, my career can’t go on forever, so I think as long as the team want me and I keep enjoying it, I’ll keep going.
“But that’s got to be…realistically, it’s on a countdown. Exactly when that day is, I don’t know.”
Put simply, Red Bull – and indeed Vettel and Verstappen’s successes are down to Newey’s car designs – and that makes him in my eyes the most important man in F1.
To hear him even mention retirement will be a concern for all those at Red Bull.
But for the rest, and I mean this in the nicest sense, it could be somewhat of a blessing, as others get the chance to win again.
Another FIArce
IT would not be a proper F1 race weekend without some bizarre decision from the FIA and in Montreal Lando Norris fell victim.
Inexplicably the stewards delved into their unfathomable rulebook to pluck out a five-second penalty for “unsportsmanlike conduct”.
Only I am not even sure the crime exists within the rules. Surely, they aren’t making it up as they go along again?
Claws for concern
THEY say Red Bull “gives you wings” but I am not sure they mean the ones Max Verstappen picked up in Canada.
On his way to glory, Verstappen struck a bird midway through the race, which got lodged in the cooling ducts for his brakes.
It had to be removed by one of the mechanics after the race, who pulled out half a bird’s carcass with a wing attached.
Ricc to what you are best at
IT really is depressing watching the supremely talented Daniel Ricciardo reduced to performing TV stunts for a living.
The Aussie, who for reasons unknown to himself, turned down the chance to drive in F1 this season to become Red Bull’s reserve driver and marketing clothes-horse.
In Canada he was co-hosting a live watch-a-long with the race alongside Canadian actor Will Arnett, which Sky F1 dubbed “Gogglebox for F1”.
Please, Daniel, get back to racing cars, it’s what you are best at…
Jor-dropping MotoGP title hunt
IF you are finding F1 a procession, maybe switch on the MotoGP, for it was another thriller.
In Germany at the Sachsenring, Jorge Martin crossed the line just 0.064 seconds ahead of world champion Francesco Bagnaia.
Martin is now just 16 behind Bagnaia in the championship.
Honda woes rise
MORE worrying times for Honda after Marc Marquez’s inexplicable crash during warm-up for the German MotoGP.
The Spaniard slid off track and crashed into Johann Zarco during last Friday’s practice.
The collision ripped the Pramac Racing bike in two. It has led to concerns about the Honda machinery.
LCR Honda rider Takaaki Nakagami said: “I couldn’t see anything wrong with his riding. The speed was good. I didn’t see, from behind, that he did anything wrong.
“But he lost the rear. The bike doesn’t stop that spin. I was scared because we use the same bike!
“It’s going downhill and I was losing it, a couple of times, having the same feeling.
“It was difficult to manage. The bike had less grip. We need to find a solution for a safer bike.”