Red Bull’s departing chief technical officer has been courted by Silverstone-based team but they are not willing to meet his salary demands
Lewis Hamilton publicly stated his desire to work with the 65 year-old when he moves to Ferrari from Mercedes next season, admitting Newey’s name would be at the “top of his wishlist” of dream signings. And a deal was at one stage said to be as good as done. It is understood the Italian team have concerns over Newey’s cost and whether his arrival might destabilise the current setup.
That move could still be resurrected, but Aston Martin, who were always interested, are hoping to swoop in, although not at any price. Newey, who has been instrumental in world championship victories for Williams, McLaren and Red Bull, is said to have asked for an eye-watering sum to sign for the Silverstone-based team. The Telegraph has heard rumours of £25 million per season, which is allegedly half of what was asked for initially and which Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll is understood to have balked at. Stroll is keen to make what would be a statement signing, though, and Newey is understood to have been given a tour of the team’s new factory at Silverstone a couple of weekends ago.
McLaren remain another potential option should Newey decide he wants another challenge. As with Aston Martin and Ferrari, they offer the potential to work across road, F1 and sportscar programmes. The team’s factory in Woking is far closer to Newey’s home than Silverstone, and he would reunite there with Rob Marshall and Peter Prodromou. Again, though, salary remains a stumbling block, and the team are already on a steep upward trajectory.
Williams team principal James Vowles has also stated publicly that he would be keen to bring Newey back to Grove, saying in Miami that he wanted Williams’s name “to be in the hat”. “He [Newey] is not in a rush, particularly, which is a good thing,” Vowles told media. “I think we have to be straightforward. I want to make sure we’re talking to him, I want to make sure our name’s in the hat.
