Williams has emerged as an unexpected contender vying for the services of F1 design maestro Adrian Newey.
Confirmation arrived on Wednesday that Newey, an F1 design icon, will depart Red Bull in early 2025.
Although a potential collaboration with Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari seems to be the leading prospect, sources from ESPN have disclosed that Aston Martin has also extended an offer.
Newey’s illustrious tenure at Williams saw him orchestrate the dominance of their cars in the early to mid-1990s, securing the first F1 championships of his esteemed career. Current team principal James Vowles has expressed keen interest in reuniting with Newey.
During Newey’s tenure at Williams, his engineered cars carried Nigel Mansell to victory in 1992 and Damon Hill in 1996. Subsequently, he transitioned to McLaren, where his designs clinched titles in 1998 and 1999.
Newey’s pivotal move to Red Bull in 2006 played a pivotal role in transforming the Austrian outfit into a formidable force in F1, securing four titles in the early 2010s and continuing to clinch championships over the past three years.
As Red Bull ascended the ranks over the past fifteen years, Williams, in contrast, has regressed to the lower echelons of the grid, a far cry from its former glory. Vowles aims to rejuvenate the British outfit into a competitive force again, acknowledging that the revival of Williams hinges not solely on securing Newey’s signature.
“I think we as Williams have a huge amount of work to do,” he said. “Adrian or not, our task is enormous — and Adrian wouldn’t make it easier, but that’s the whole point.
“I think we also have to be sensible about it. Our conversations with him have been very light. But even so, are we in discussions? Yes. Very light discussions. “But to answer your question, would it be a dream team? Yes.”
