Newey explains his 2014 frustration at Red Bull after Horner’s claim

Adrian Newey says his frustration at Red Bull in 2014 stemmed from Renault’s apparent lack of intent to address its power-unit problems, rather than simply a poor season. He was responding to Christian Horner’s claim that Newey wanted to leave at the first sign of adversity.

Newey, then Red Bull’s chassis designer, said he could accept a power-unit supplier having a bad year. The situation became bleak when Renault did not appear intent on fixing the problems, he said. Newey added that Horner may not have fully understood his frustration, and that the situation did not really change until Red Bull switched to Honda in 2019.

The 2014 season was the opening year of the V6 hybrid regulations, and Red Bull’s Renault power unit lagged badly behind Mercedes. Red Bull finished second in the constructors’ championship, almost 300 points behind Mercedes, with three wins to Mercedes’ 16.

Horner said the prospect of Newey leaving had saddened him; he felt he could no longer rely on the designer and that their partnership was less solid than he had believed.

Horner has also said he felt blindsided by Newey’s eventual move to Aston Martin. Newey, who said he had not yet read Horner’s memoir, declined to comment on the rest of his remarks. He said the two remain friends and that he is godfather to Horner’s daughter Olivia.