The former McLaren manager has no doubts.
August is coming to an end, and in September, definitive developments are expected regarding Adrian Newey and where the next stage of the legendary aerodynamics wizard’s career will take place. He officially parted ways with Red Bull on May 1. In the weeks following Newey’s departure announcement, Ferrari seemed to have an edge over the competition, but recently, Aston Martin appears to have gained the upper hand in the battle to secure Newey’s services.
However, according to Jo Ramirez, Adrian Newey will ultimately choose Ferrari. The former McLaren manager worked with Newey after his stint at Williams and was able to appreciate the qualities of one of the longest-serving and most successful technicians in the paddock. “I don’t think Newey will retire,” Jo Ramirez said in an interview with El Mundo Deportivo. “I see him at Ferrari because it’s the most prestigious team in F1, and if you have the opportunity to work for Ferrari, you shouldn’t pass it up. It’s not a matter of money because Newey already has more than he could spend in his entire life. The difficulty might be moving to Italy because he’s happy in the UK. But today the rules have changed; you can work remotely, and two or three days a week, he could use his private jet to go back and forth.”
Jo Ramirez also highlighted a rare quality for someone of Newey’s stature: “He truly knows what a racing car needs to go fast. And he’s another one like Ayrton Senna, very demanding. But he’s also someone who, if you say, ‘Look, we could do it this way,’ he listens to you. He’s not like the designer we had at McLaren, John Barnard. Adrian always listens, and if the suggestion is good, he uses it; if it’s not, he doesn’t. But at least he listens. He’s a kind guy. He walks around the paddock alone, almost anonymously, humbly. He’s a genius.” Jo Ramirez concluded.
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