Unforgettable Car Geniuses - Adrian Newey
11 January 2025 3 min read 5 images
Photo credit: Goodwood, Red Bull
History is written every day, which is why we want to begin this chapter dedicated to presenting the great figures who have brought the automobile to where it stands today—mostly men, unfortunately, though things are fortunately changing—with a personality who has recently been in the spotlight. We're talking about the aerodynamic and race car design genius Adrian Newey, who, after leaving Red Bull last spring and receiving numerous tempting offers, has chosen Aston Martin. We are, therefore, discussing history while it is still being written: Aston Martin, the British sports and racing car brand often compared to Ferrari—more in intention than in actual results—represents for Newey the ultimate symbol of British pride in motorsport. Newey now aims to elevate the brand to a level of excellence that matches Britain's passion for racing.
This is the most rational explanation for his decision to turn down Ferrari, despite his 25 World Titles earned with Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull. Ferrari strongly desired him, but they could not offer what Newey now seeks: the chance to become the engineer capable of giving the green British racing cars the same mark of excellence that Ferrari has with its Italian red.
As an aeronautical engineer from the very beginning, Newey has always held the belief that the car, not the engine, is the key to success. He applied this philosophy early on, starting in 1984 when working on Indianapolis cars and later with March and Leyton House. "To maximize the chassis and aerodynamics, Adrian didn't even leave space for our feet," recalls Ivan Capelli, a driver of that car. "Finishing a Grand Prix was pure torment."
His design philosophy—balancing engine and chassis—became even clearer when he joined Red Bull in 2006. At the time, the Austrian company was just starting in Formula 1 with two teams, Red Bull and Toro Rosso, both using Ferrari engines. Newey immediately requested that the main team, Red Bull, switch to Renault engines, as they required smaller cooling surfaces, making them better suited for bold and efficient aerodynamic solutions. His drive to go beyond convention was also evident in the recently completed Red Bull RB20, where he introduced a highly complex yet refined cooling system to enhance the car’s aerodynamic performance.
However, the pursuit of extreme solutions does not always pay off. During the late 1990s, while creating the McLaren cars that won two world championships under his guidance, some of his more daring innovations failed to deliver the desired results.
Yet genius also lies in doing what others deem impossible. This stems from Newey's personal traits: like the famous architect Le Corbusier, he always carries a notebook where he sketches details of rival cars in the pit lane or on the starting grid. These two-dimensional sketches often become the foundation of his next car design. His team then translates them into 3D models using CAD software, and he reviews and adjusts them as needed. Another factor contributing to his creative ideas is his passion for sailing—an excellent way to study the effects of airflow. Besides being a skilled sailor, Adrian is also a capable race car driver. Competing in historic car events, he often chooses cars that allow him to personally test how once-winning models, such as the Lotus 49B or the Ferrari 312 B3—which he drove this year in Monaco and Goodwood—might have evolved if they had incorporated his ideas.
Though Newey’s career has mainly been associated with single-seaters, he has also designed some remarkable closed-wheel cars. He began with the unbeatable March GTP powered by BMW for the American IMSA Championship and, last summer, unveiled the Red Bull RB17, a truly unique road car. Remarkably, all 50 units planned, each priced at around £5 million, were sold before production even began.
This snapshot of Adrian Newey captures only his past achievements. In a couple of years, Roarington will update it. Will it feature new glories? Easy to believe.
CLASSIC CAR MATCHER