Newey, Goodwood and the 312 B3: Joke or Message?

Adrian Newey, beyond being the “Genius” of Formula 1 and a skilled driver when he gets behind the wheel, is also endowed with subtle English humor, was discovered at the 2024 Festival of Speed. The engineer who designed all of Red Bull's championship-winning cars has decided to leave the Milton Keynes team to join another. Despite months having passed, Newey has not announced where he will go, and the entire Formula 1 world is in turmoil. It was certain he was joining Ferrari, then powerful alternatives like Aston Martin and McLaren emerged (with special appeal for an Englishman like him, surely attracted by the chance to bring the title back to England), and now rumors of Mercedes courting him have resurfaced.

Adrian Newey at the wheel of the 312 B3 of Scuderia Ferrari, with which Niki Lauda raced in the 1974 World Championship and two races at the start of 1975.

Amid all this uncertainty, Newey showed up at Goodwood with Niki Lauda's 312 B3. He's not dressed in red, but the car sends a stunning message. After the hill climb, where he drove hard and well, as usual, he emphasized how this car, the first to guide engineers towards ground-effect opportunities, marked a turning point from the models of the previous decade. Adrian, having just raced fiercely and podiumed at the Monaco Grand Prix Historique in the Lotus 25, highlighted the importance of Ferrari's technical evolution with the 312 B3 at the time.

Adrian Newey relaxes with his mechanics at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed.

Fair and objective. But is such praise for the Maranello team on the eve of the new 2026 regulations entirely coincidental? He would certainly love to reopen Ferrari's championship cycle. But being a “Genius, skilled driver, and subtle humorist”, his appearance at Goodwood might be a new move to mislead about his future. Just a bit more patience.

Will Adrian Newey's presence at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in a Ferrari be a preview of his next role?