How March failure in 1989 helps Adrian Newey deal with pressure on his future

Adrian Newey is probably the greatest engineer in the history of Formula 1. In nearly 40 years of career, the Briton has designed some of the most efficient single-seaters, whether at Williams, McLaren ou Red Bull, and has numerous titles to his credit. Loyal to the Austrian team since 2006, the aerodynamicist will embark on a new adventure in 2025.

Since announcing his departure from Red Bull, recorded last May, speculation is rife regarding his future in the discipline. Will he go to Ferrari to pass into posterity? Will he be tempted by the ambitious project ofAston Martin ? Will he create a surprise by joining Williams or Alpine ?

If his future fascinates and questions, it also creates enormous expectations and therefore, strong media pressure around Adrian Newey. However, in the paddock, the Englishman does not seem to be more disturbed than before. Still with his notebook in hand, Red Bull's star engineer deals with the pressure surrounding him. So what is his secret? The answer is experience and in particular one in particular.

“This part is very easy, because I don't really read social media or magazines – it's something I stopped doing a long time ago, he confided during the Talking Bulls podcast. At the time of Leyton House (the team was still called March at that time, Editor's note), the first car I made was in 1988, which illustrates my age, obviously! It was a good little car. Then, in 1989, we completely blew it, and I went from being the new hero in the F1 paddock, among the engineers, to being the idiot with one-time success. »

© DPPI

Adrian Newey has his solution to pressure

At the time, the March CG891 entered in 1989 had not met the same success as its predecessor, the March 881, which had brought the modest British team to 6th place in the Manufacturers' championship in 1988 (with two podiums). This failure was strongly criticized in the world of Formula 1, who criticized Adrian Newey for concepts that were too extreme and far from being effective in all conditions.

Dismissed by Leyton House during the summer of 1990 despite a new exploit from Ivan Capelli at Castellet, the Briton then bounced back at Williams before his career really took off in the 1990s with numerous titles acquired thanks to his single-seaters. More than thirty years later, Adrian Newey once again finds himself in the media spotlight, this time regarding his future after Red Bull. With his experience, the 65-year-old man does not let himself be disturbed.

“I told myself that you couldn't read the press only when it was good and be offended when it was bad, so at that moment I said to myself: 'Okay, I won't read anymore the press'. My wife, Mandy, is on social media and pretty much keeps me up to date with what's going on, but I'm relatively oblivious to it. I just try to live my life and not let it influence me.", he added. What if that was the key to success?

ALSO READ > The potential arrival of Adrian Newey, far from being a finality for Aston Martin