F1 boss Christian Horner blamed for Adrian Newey Red Bull exit

Christian Horner

Christian Horner blamed for Adrian Newey Red Bull exit

Christian Horner's leadership has been questioned

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Thursday 1 May 2025 10:57

Christian Horner has been faced with a dilemma following the exit of Adrian Newey from Red Bull according to former F1 driver Ralf Schumacher.

The design legend left the team midway through 2024, and since then Red Bull have had to contend with falling to third place in last year’s constructors’ championship and are significantly off the pace of their rivals in 2025.

Since Newey’s exit Pierre Wache has taken on the role of technical director, and according to Schumacher he does not quite have the same qualities as Newey - an individual he believes Horner should have not let go.

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"In my opinion, Pierre Wache is simply not Adrian Newey. As a result, it will be difficult,” he said to Sky Germany.

"He built the entire team and was responsible for it along with Dr. Marko. He should have seen that. And he should never have lost Adrian Newey."

"If I think everything's going to be fine and I don't need him, that's where it all starts. I think Christian Horner has outdone himself, and now he faces a dilemma."

Have Red Bull suffered without Newey?

Whilst it may just be a coincidence that Red Bull’s downturn in performances aligned with Newey’s departure, the team are nevertheless unable to develop the car any further ahead of their rivals.

Horner has outlined discrepancies between their expected performance in the wind tunnel and their results on track, but the team seem no closer to solving the issue despite Max Verstappen’s impatience with the RB21.

Red Bull’s weak results in 2025 has once again prompted speculation that Verstappen could sign for Aston Martin, particularly now Adrian Newey has joined their ranks.

Newey assumed his role as managing technical partner in March, and is busy designing the team’s 2026 challenger which they hope will lift them out of the midfield and into the championship fight.

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Red Bull Max Verstappen Christian Horner Adrian Newey RB21 Pierre Wache