Former F1 driver David Coulthard believes Adrian Newey’s high-profile unveiling at Aston Martin “felt like a bit of a middle finger” to current employers Red Bull.
Newey revealed earlier this month that he will join Aston Martin in F1 2025, having signalled his intention to leave Red Bull in May, with the 65-year-old unveiled in a press conference alongside team owner Lawrence Stroll.
Eddie Jordan defends Adrian Newey presentation after ‘middle finger’ accusation
Although Newey immediately ceased involvement with Red Bull’s F1 operation in May, the design legend remains involved in Red Bull’s RB17 hypercar project and had continued to attend races.
PlanetF1.com revealed last week that Newey’s travel plans for the rest of the F1 2024 season have since altered, with the Aston Martin-bound man no longer expected to attend races with Red Bull.
Speaking at last weekend’s Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Christian Horner issued a cool response to Aston Martin’s presentation of Newey, claiming “Adrian has always tended to do his own thing.”
Go deeper: Adrian Newey joins Aston Martin
Horner went on to add that Aston Martin opted to “celebrate it, perhaps, potentially slightly prematurely, before he’s finished his contract with Red Bull Racing.”
Appearing on the Formula For Success podcast alongside Newey’s manager, the former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan, ex-Red Bull driver David Coulthard claimed it was disrespectful for Newey to appear at Aston Martin’s factory while still under contract at Red Bull.
And he claimed it was a different scenario to the likes of Carlos Sainz and Lewis Hamilton preparing for their F1 2025 transfers to Williams and Ferrari respectively.
He said: “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.
“We’ve had it with Carlos, we know he’s going to Williams and he’s obviously done his little press statement on that.
“But what is unusual is someone under contract to be at the factory, doing the rounds.
“I have to be honest: I was in a situation when, when I was leaving Williams, I went to McLaren during 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.
“I remember sitting with Mario Ilien, who was behind the Mercedes engine, and he was asking about the Renault engine.
“It really did feel unprofessional – and there’s my admission.
“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.
“Adrian’s a friend. And therefore, when you speak about friends publicly, they may not like it, but there’s my truth.
.webp)
