Ferrari stalwart reveals near deal with Adrian Newey and the reasons he ultimately turned it down. Adrian Newey nearly joined Ferrari but chose Aston Martin instead.

Adrian Newey is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished designers in Formula 1 history, with a career that has seen him shape some of the sport’s most dominant machines. His remarkable CV includes multiple drivers’ and constructors’ championships, starting from his early days at Leyton House and Copersucar, before moving to Williams. There, he played a pivotal role in delivering Nigel Mansell his only F1 crown and helping Alain Prost retire as a four-time world champion.

After Williams, Newey joined McLaren as technical director, overseeing cars that carried Mika Hakkinen to two titles, a period of dominance that David Coulthard attributed in part to Newey’s unrivalled technical brilliance. In 2006, Red Bull secured his services, and over nearly two decades, he masterminded designs that powered Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen to four championships each, cementing his reputation as the sport’s preeminent design mind.

Now embarking on a new challenge with Aston Martin, Newey faces the task of transforming Lawrence Stroll’s team into a title-winning outfit. The upcoming 2026 regulations could either play to his strengths or pose fresh obstacles, but one notable absence from his glittering résumé is a stint with Ferrari.

Longtime Ferrari figure Gino Rosato has revealed just how close that partnership came to reality. Speaking on the Pitstop Podcast, Rosato recounted that he personally came nearer than anyone else to securing Newey’s signature for the Scuderia. He stressed that financial incentives were not the barrier; rather, Newey’s decision was rooted in personal priorities. Rosato described the designer as not only a “number one genius in every sense” but also one of the nicest individuals in the sport, someone who treats everyone with respect and humility.

Despite Ferrari’s repeated attempts over the years, Adrian Newey consistently declined their offers. Following his departure from Red Bull—where he had guided the team to six constructors’ titles and eight drivers’ crowns—virtually every team on the grid expressed interest. In the end, Aston Martin’s private factory tour and ambitious vision convinced him to sign.

While some suggested that returning to Williams was too heavy a project, the challenge at Aston Martin is arguably no smaller. Ferrari, under Fred Vasseur, did engage in talks with Adrian Newey last year, hoping to capitalise on his availability. However, no agreement could be reached, and Adrian Newey instead turned his focus to helping Fernando Alonso in his pursuit of a long-awaited third world championship—a pairing that has been one of his long-time ambitions.