Red Bull’s design genius, Adrian Newey, has disclosed that two incidents during the Austrian Grand Prix weekend had him on edge, despite Max Verstappen’s seemingly straightforward victory at the Red Bull Ring.
Verstappen secured his fifth consecutive win, extending Red Bull’s flawless run in 2023 and widening their lead in the Constructors’ standings to a commanding 199 points after just nine rounds. However, Newey emphasized that the team’s success is far from easy, highlighting Verstappen’s close call with teammate Sergio Perez in the sprint race and his late pitstop for the fastest lap bonus point as moments that made him “nervous” in Austria.
During the rain-affected sprint race, Perez’s aggressive defence forced Verstappen onto the grass at the start, but the reigning World Champion swiftly reclaimed the lead with a bold pass into Turn 4. The following day, Verstappen’s pitstop on the penultimate lap for a set of soft tires saw him rejoin the track just seconds ahead of Charles Leclerc’s Ferrari in second place, securing the fastest lap point and completing another flawless weekend for Red Bull.
Despite the team’s dominant start to the season, Newey urged caution, citing Verstappen and Perez’s near-miss as a reminder of how quickly things can go wrong in Formula 1. He emphasized the need to stay focused and keep pushing forward, as other teams continue to develop their cars.
Regarding Verstappen’s late pitstop, Newey admitted feeling some trepidation, as it didn’t impact the team’s Constructors’ score and there was little chance of others pitting to challenge the fastest lap. However, he commended Verstappen’s determination to go for everything and expressed confidence in the team’s excellent pit stop performance.
When asked if this season is the best he has experienced, Newey recalled the 1999 season at McLaren when Michael Schumacher’s broken leg seemed to open the door for Mika Hakkinen to secure a second consecutive Championship. However, McLaren made mistakes, and Hakkinen narrowly clinched the title from Ferrari’s Eddie Irvine by just two points. Newey cautioned against assuming anything and emphasized the need to remain vigilant throughout the season.
As one of the most successful figures in F1 history, Newey knows the importance of not letting complacency set in, despite Red Bull’s impressive start to the season. He acknowledged that while things may appear smooth on the surface, the team must keep pushing forward and avoid making any mistakes that could jeopardize their lead.
