Earlier this week Red Bull announced that Newey would step away from its F1 team after a two-decade spell on the Milton Keynes-based group which yielded seven drivers’ and 6 constructors’ world championships.
The information was acquired as an enormous blow to Pink Bull in Miami’s F1 paddock, whereas the group itself performed down the impact of the 65-year-old’s departure.
Pink Bull credited Newey for his main contribution to its success but in addition insisted it has a strong succession plan in place below technical director Pierre Wache to remain aggressive into the 2026 laws shift.
For 2026, Pink Bull has taken its engine programme in-house below the Pink Bull Powertrains umbrella, with American powerhouse Ford offering monetary and technical enter as its official works associate.
However amid recommendations that Ford will now work with a weaker group than it initially signed up for, Ford Efficiency Motorsports director Mark Rushbrook insisted Newey’s exit has no affect in any respect on its dedication to Pink Bull.
“We now have enormous respect for Adrian when it comes to his profession and all of the issues that he has achieved for a lot of totally different groups in F1, particularly the final 19 years at Pink Bull,” Rushbrook instructed Autosport.
“Nothing however admiration and respect for him and we want him the perfect for no matter he’ll do sooner or later.
“Our focus although absolutely stays on the ability unit programme for 2026. That is unchanged after this information and that’s nonetheless going forward full throttle.”
Jim Farley, CEO of Ford, Mark Rushbrook, Ford and Pink Bull Racing Crew Principal Christian Horner
Photograph by: Pink Bull Content material Pool
Rushbrook identified that it was regular for each Pink Bull and Ford to have succession plans in place, with the truth that Newey’s Pink Bull deal was set to finish in 2025 that means that his presence from 2026 onwards was by no means assured.
“Continuity was within the very first discussions that I had with [team principal] Christian Horner,” Rushbrook mentioned.
“So, my query to him was: ‘How is Pink Bull going to proceed to achieve success in 2026 with all-new laws?’
“Like several good firm or any good racing group, you all the time have a succession plan, and you’re all the time coaching and growing individuals throughout the organisation.
“That’s no totally different on this case. I’m not being disrespectful to Adrian in any respect as a result of he’s improbable, however each group has a succession plan.”
Rushbrook mentioned Pink Bull was nonetheless its absolute best associate in F1 regardless of the current unrest behind the scenes, brought on by an internal power struggle between different factions that continues to be largely unresolved for now.
“To do something nice in motorsport, we as Ford discover the perfect groups to associate with. We consider that we have now discovered the perfect group in Method 1,” he added.
“It’s all about cooperation, understanding the scenario and being dedicated to doing what it takes to achieve success. That’s persevering with with each events.”