Adrian Newey, the Lotus 49B and the enigma of the Monaco Grand Prix Historique

When you are the center of attention, every decision and every word is a message that interests and intrigues. At the Monaco Grand Prix Historique last Saturday and Sunday Adrian Newey, the celebrated aeronautical engineer who created revolutionary and victorious single-seaters in Formula 1, was the most watched and courted man. More so than Lando Norris, Charles Leclerc and the numerous other drivers who circulated in the paddock to observe, intrigued and admiring, the magnificent historic cars that were engaged in the numerous races that were planned.

This event, due to the winding and complicated road course, as well as its central role in the social life of the Principality, turned out to be a real challenge for the drivers. Almost all of them were amateurs who do not conserve their cars and do not fear even serious risks.

Zak Brown, McLaren CEO, shares a light moment in the Monaco paddock with Adrian Newey by placing his team's hat on him.

Newey, having abandoned the role of designer for a weekend, presented himself as a driver, affable and willing to talk to the many who, between one joke and another, tried to understand what he will decide to do now that he has decided to leave the World Champion Red Bull team. To muddy the waters of the many hypotheses that would have him at Mercedes, Aston Martin or Ferrari, he presented himself with a car that was by itself a message. It was a Formula 1 car with many meanings: For one thing it was British, designed by a genius like himself, the daredevil Colin Chapman.

We are talking about the Lotus 49B, the result of a brilliant interpretation of the 1968 regulations that was driven in Monaco by the unforgettable Graham Hill, who became the World Champion that year. A car that, among other things, was the first to bring advertising into Formula 1. Until the previous year, cars had to have the colour of the competitor's country and the Lotus, as the 25 that can be driven on the Roarington simulators, is in fact green. But Chapman, whose vision went beyond technology, presented it for the ‘68 World Championship in red and gold, the colours of the Gold Leaf cigarette package. It opened an era that brought significant sums of money for the development of Formula 1.

Adrian Newey competed in Monaco driving the historical 1968 Lotus 49B, finishing fourth in his category.

But Newey's choice went deeper: Known as a genius, every team he has ever left —Williams, McLaren and perhaps soon Red Bull — has missed him. He chose Lotus because it matched his design philosophy perfectly: to get the most out of every part of the car. His presence in Monaco also showed his love for racing, not just designing the cars. It was a clear display of his deep passion for the sport.

Finally, Newey's openness to talk cleverly keeps people guessing about his next move without giving anything away. Where might he go next? Will he join Mercedes to use his skills to bring them back to the top, overtaking his previous team, Red Bull? Or will he move to Ferrari to help bring them and Lewis Hamilton to a World Title? Perhaps he'll join Aston Martin to bring back the glory of the British racing green by winning championships? We'll have to wait a bit longer to find out. Unless, of course, he chooses to spend more time enjoying his impressive sailing boat and racing historic cars, where he's known to be fast.

Adrian Newey embraced his passion for racing by suiting up and driving at the Monaco Grand Prix Historique.