Aug.8 (GMM) Adrian Newey is getting much more involved in the design of next year’s Red Bull, according to Red Bull team boss Christian Horner.
In the past few years, dismayed at the curtailing of aerodynamics in F1 and the predominance of the ‘power units’, F1’s famous designer took a step back from the front line.
Newey has busied himself with an America’s Cup project as well as a supercar collaboration with Aston Martin, but Horner says the Briton’s interest in F1 is ramping up again as work on the 2017 car progresses.
The aerodynamics, chassis and tyre regulations are changing significantly next year, and Red Bull chief Horner says it means Newey is involved once again.
“We are back where we were in 2014,” he told Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.
“Adrian withdrew himself somewhat with the RB12. I would say that his share of the current car is only 20 per cent, which shows how well our engineering office is doing.”
But Horner added: “The new rules have Adrian fully motivated again. With next year’s car, I would say he is back up at 50 per cent.”