David Coulthard, former Red Bull driver, has publicly criticized Adrian Newey’s recent actions as he prepares to transition from Red Bull to Aston Martin. Coulthard described Newey’s behavior as unprofessional, likening it to showing the “middle finger” to the team that employed him for nearly two decades.
Adrian Newey is set to join Aston Martin in March 2025 as a managing technical partner and shareholder, marking the end of an 18-year tenure at Red Bull. This move has sparked controversy due to Newey’s visit to Aston Martin’s factory prior to the official announcement on September 10, despite being still under contract with Red Bull. Coulthard views this visit to a rival team’s base as a conflict of interest, highlighting the tensions in Formula 1’s high-stakes environment.
Newey had already stepped back from Red Bull’s Formula 1 operations in May 2024. While he remained involved with the RB17 hypercar project and attended select races, his presence at F1 events for Red Bull became less frequent. Nevertheless, Coulthard’s criticism reflects his belief in maintaining professional boundaries until contractual obligations conclude.
Drawing from his own experience, Coulthard shared on the Formula for Success podcast how uncomfortable he felt when transitioning from Williams to McLaren in 1995. He recalled a meeting with McLaren engineers about the Renault engine while still under contract with Williams, expressing a profound sense of unease during the situation. “I have to be honest: I was in a situation when, when I was leaving Williams, I went to McLaren during the 1995 season and sat down with the engineers towards the end of the season to give as much information as I could recall. I didn’t feel comfortable doing it, quite frankly, but I was asked to do it by Ron Dennis and I was young and it was where I was going to be for ’96,” Coulthard explained. This personal account underscores the inappropriateness he perceives in Newey’s actions.
Coulthard further elaborated, “To see Adrian there with Aston, to be doing the press conference, to be walking around the factory when he’s still under contract with Red Bull – he’s still working there on the RB17, the road car, which looks exceptional – it just felt like a bit of a middle finger to the family that he’s now leaving.”
He also noted the norm of public announcements about team changes in sports, though he emphasized that visiting a rival factory while under contract is highly unusual. “It’s not unusual for announcements to come out of people moving, especially the drivers, and in sport – footballers are going to move to another team even when they’re playing. But what is unusual is someone under contract to be at the factory, doing the rounds.”
Adding further depth to his critique, Coulthard admitted, “Adrian’s a friend. And therefore, when you speak about friends publicly, they may not like it, but there’s my truth.” He stressed the inherent difficulty of being fully committed to two entities simultaneously, a situation he likened to being in two relationships at once. “You can’t give 100 per cent to two things. You’re going to give 100 per cent to one thing.”
Eddie Jordan, Newey’s manager, played a crucial role in facilitating the details of Newey’s contract termination with Red Bull and his onboarding with Aston Martin. As this transition unfolds, the motorsport community will be watching closely to see how these dynamics influence both teams and the broader competitive landscape of Formula 1.
The anticipation of Newey’s impact on Aston Martin and the ongoing discussions about professional conduct in Formula 1 speak to the complexities and high stakes of personnel movements in this highly competitive field. The situation serves as a reminder of the delicate balance required when navigating contractual obligations and the expectations of professional decorum.
