Lewis Hamilton has revealed he ‘very much’ wants to work with design guru Adrian Newey at Ferrari next season.
The positivity of Hamilton’s comments indicated that a deal to sign Newey is firmly in Ferrari’s thoughts, and, probably, even further nearer completion.
With Newey, 65, due to leave Red Bull next year, Hamilton was asked if he wanted to link. ‘Very much,’ he responded before adding: ‘Adrian Newey has got such a great history and track record and he has done an amazing job throughout his career. With the knowledge he has he would be an amazing addition.’
Hamilton added: ‘They (Ferrari) have got a great team and they are making huge progress and their car is quicker this year, but it would be a privilege to work with him.
‘If I made a list of people I would like to work with then he (Newey) would absolutely be at the top of it.
Red Bull confirmed the departure of F1’s most successful designer Adrian Newey next spring
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‘Any team would be fortunate to have the opportunity to work with him.’
It seems that Hamilton may even have spoken to Ferrari chairman John Elkann about signing Newey prior to committing his own future to the Scuderia earlier in the year.
He dodged answering whether Newey’s name was first brought up, saying it was ‘private’ – which was telling.
Hamilton, 39, added: ‘From my perspective when I joined McLaren (in 2006) it was an evolution of his car.
‘I got there just after he left and it was linked to the concept he had worked on, so I felt privileged I could touch something he had worked on.’
Newey’s impending departure was announced this week in a blow to Red Bull, where he has grown disillusioned over time. The potential role at Ferrari could conceivably double his money from £15million – though it is the challenge of adding to his 25 world titles as a designer in the iconic red that appears to hold the real allure. Doing so would make him a winner at four teams, comprising Williams, McLaren and Red Bull (and then Ferrari).
Red Bull’s Sergio Perez said he didn’t believe Newey’s departure would trigger a mass exodus from the embattled team. The Mexican said: ‘It is obviously not ideal to lose someone like Adrian who has been tremendous to our team and our organisation. He is a good friend of mine.
Newey is a legendary F1 designer and has been key to Red Bull and Max Verstappen’s success
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‘But there are times in life to do something else and he has been at Red Bull for 20 years so it is fair.
‘I don’t think there will be an exodus. Everyone is fully committed to the team. We are having a tremendous season. The future looks bright. It is normal you have this kind of movement but the organisation remains strong and I don’t see any more changes in that regard.
‘Adrian has contributed to the Red Bull philosophy and I assume he would cause an immediate impact whoever he goes because he is a very clever guy and hard worker. He is much more than a designer. He influence set-up, strategies and he has a big impact on race weekends.’
