F1 News: Aston Martin denies making big-money bid for Newey

(GMM) Dr Helmut Marko is not denying that Aston Martin has made a huge-money offer to lure Adrian Newey away from dominant Formula 1 team Red Bull.

Newey, one of the most celebrated F1 designers of all time, is taking a lot of the credit for Red Bull and Max Verstappen’s years-long run of dominance – culminating in the 2024 car.

“It’s a credit to everyone who works at the factory,” the 65-year-old is quoted as saying by the Spanish newspaper Diario Sport.

“We have a fantastic team of engineers whose enthusiasm, drive and creativity are responsible for what you see here before you.”

However, Newey’s name has also been mentioned in connection with the current unrest and leadership struggle still taking place behind the scenes at Red Bull.

“Everyone thinks he’s Horner’s best friend,” former Red Bull driver Robert Doornbos told Ziggo Sport, “but he doesn’t want to be involved in this (saga) anymore.

“What I’ve heard is that he won’t renew his contract. And that’s a big thing, because if he stops at the end of 2025, where does that leave them for the new era?”

When asked at Suzuka about reports of an ‘astronomical’ transfer sum being offered to Newey by Aston Martin, team boss Mike Krack answered “No, no”.

But Marko, at the center of the dispute with Horner, doesn’t deny it.

“He is a highly sought-after designer,” said the Austrian. “He is the one that everyone wants to have.

“I don’t think it was the first offer he’s received and I don’t think it will be the last.”

As for Newey, he’s playing his own cards close to his chest.

“I don’t tend to plan things too far in advance,” he said at Suzuka. “As long as I continue to enjoy myself and the team loves me, I will continue doing it for the moment and then we will have to see what the future holds.”

Race winner Max Verstappen of the Netherlands and Oracle Red Bull Racing , Second placed Sergio Perez of Mexico and Oracle Red Bull Racing, Oracle Red Bull Racing Team Principal Christian Horner and Adrian Newey, the Chief Technical Officer of Oracle Red Bull Racing celebrate with their team after the F1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka International Racing Course on April 07, 2024 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool

April 6, 2024

(GMM) Despite the British F1 media’s wet dream, Aston Martin has denied making an ‘astronomical’ bid to lure Adrian Newey away from Red Bull.

Amid Red Bull’s dominance, the team’s 2024 season has been marred by internal and public strife amid an obvious leadership power struggle and the Christian Horner scandal.

Christian Horner and Adrian Newey get a good laugh over the fake rumors that Newey will move to Aston Martin or Mercedes

So serious has the chaos been that Dr Helmut Marko, legendary F1 designer Newey, and even Max Verstappen have all been linked with the exit door.

“We are absolutely calm and confident that Max will stay with us,” Horner told Sky Italia at Suzuka, adding that the chance the Dutchman will remain at Red Bull beyond 2024 is “100 percent”.

But even Verstappen doesn’t deny that he is being actively poached by Mercedes’ Toto Wolff.

“I understand why he does it,” the 26-year-old told De Limburger newspaper. “You can’t ignore me. They want me in that car, I understand that.

“A few years ago there was of course a little more tension between us and Mercedes, but that can all be forgiven and forgotten,” Verstappen added. “That’s true on both sides.

“But that doesn’t mean I think I should be driving somewhere else right now. Also, Mercedes does not have the fastest car at the moment. That’s the Red Bull.”

However, whilst now quieter, the Red Bull power struggle is still rumbling behind the scenes. This week, it was rumored that the ‘independent’ lawyer who investigated the Horner affair is in fact linked with his own Thai allies.

“I stick with my no comment,” Marko told Osterreich newspaper when asked about that.

As for those Mercedes rumors, he added: “You should ask Toto Wolff.”

Wolff recently even said Verstappen could take Marko, 80, with him to Mercedes. “I’m not thinking about that at the moment,” Marko smiled. “But let’s see what the near future brings.”

What he certainly doesn’t hope the near future brings is Newey’s sensational switch to Aston Martin, powered by paddock rumors of an ‘astronomical’ money offer made by billionaire team owner Lawrence Stroll.

“Adrian Newey has won more titles than anyone in the paddock,” Stroll’s son Lance told Viaplay at Suzuka. “So I’m sure everyone wants him. He’s definitely a legend.”

Aston Martin team boss Mike Krack, however, denies the story.

“No, no,” he said at Suzuka. “We have a very strong technical team with Dan (Fallows), Tom (McCullough), Luca (Furbatto) and Bob Bell recently joined us. So we are quite happy with what we have at the moment.”

When asked the same question, team driver Fernando Alonso added: “I focus purely on driving.”