SUZUKA, JAPAN – APRIL 05: Adrian Newey, the Technical Director of Oracle Red Bull Racing watches in the garage during practice before the Formula 1 Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka International Racing Circuit on April 05, 2024 in Suzuka, Japan. (Photo by Mark Thompson/Getty Images) // Getty Images / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202404050109 // For editorial use only //
Priestley’s Formula 1 career at McLaren began after gaining experience in F3 and F3000 teams. In 2000, he received an invitation from McLaren to become the team’s #2 test mechanic. A year later, he was promoted to the race team in the same position, which he held until 2006. In 2007, he was appointed as #1 mechanic before becoming the Chief Mechanic of McLaren’s race team in 2008. However, he left the team in 2009.
Newey spent some time in Woking designing Formula 1 cars for McLaren after a paid leave period from Williams. He then joined the team led by Ron Dennis from 1997 to 2005. After his time at McLaren, Newey left to join Red Bull.
The impressive track record of Newey in Formula 1 car design speaks for itself. Priestley had the opportunity to work under Newey’s guidance on design issues at McLaren for five seasons. In an interview this week, Priestley shared a story from his time working with Newey: “I worked with Adrian from the 2000s until he left McLaren. So, from 2000 to 2005. I remember when he actually left the team and joined Red Bull. He is an incredible individual with impeccable attention to detail. Let me tell you a story. I remember working on a car that Adrian had designed at McLaren years ago. We had a huge plate or deflector on the side of the car, with the suspension passing through the middle of it. I thought it would be practical to make a small notch in the deflector to make it easier to replace when damaged. However, Adrian insisted that there should be no notch in the deflector. This meant we had to remove the entire front suspension to fix the plate, which was a time-consuming process. I remember feeling frustrated one day while working on this task, and Adrian walked by me.”
Marc (pictured above during his time at McLaren) continued: “Adrian, I said, come take a look at this and asked ‘when you are creating these things, how much of your focus is on practicality and considering people like me who work on your car, as opposed to pure performance?’ He replied with zero.
“It’s all about performance,” he said. And although it was frustrating for me, I have great respect for it. That’s what drives Adrian. It’s what has led to the creation of these incredible cars over the years because of his meticulous attention to detail, going beyond what most people would do,” explained Priestley.
The departure of Newey from Red Bull will mark the end of a significant era. Over his 20 years with the team, Newey has built an exceptionally efficient design team. However, his immense influence, experience, and reputation as the leading technical thinker in modern Formula 1 will be felt by any team.
Priestley speculated: “I believe Red Bull will lose out on that. And someone else may gain. He is undoubtedly a loss. Yes, he is coming to the end of his career there, but Red Bull will be fine. They have a fantastic team of individuals.
“It’s not just about Adrian. At Red Bull, many people have contributed to their success. They excel in almost every aspect. They will be fine. However, it cannot be denied that it will be a loss for Red Bull and a gain for someone else.”
The question everyone is eager to get an answer to: Will Newey join Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc at Ferrari next year? Italy seems to think so and reports suggest an announcement should be made after Miami. Supposedly, the British designer and Ferrari team principal, Fred Vassuer, met in London last week to finalize the deal. We will have to wait and see.
Meanwhile, Priestley shared his thoughts on a possible farewell for Newey at Ferrari: “I would love to see that. I believe he will show up somewhere else. He mentioned over the weekend that he wants to take a break and travel with his wife after leaving Red Bull, and I understand that.
“But he also managed to negotiate his way out of the paid leave period. You don’t do that unless you have hopes of joining another team in the sport. There is a big regulatory change on the horizon. Those are the things that really excite people like Adrian Newey.
“If he can join a new team, and if it happens to be Ferrari, that would be wonderful. But even if it’s in early 2025 or sometime in 2025, he will have the opportunity to play a significant role in the design process for the big change in 2026,” Priestley predicted.
© 2024
Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo scored three goals in Portugal’s overwhelming 5-1 victory over Spain in an exciting friendly match. Ronaldo showed his exceptional skill and led his team to a dominant win. With this impressive display, Ronaldo once again proved why he is considered one of the greatest players of all time.
The game started with Spain opening the scoring with a penalty goal. However, Spanish joy was short-lived as Ronaldo responded with a spectacular goal to equalize the game. He then scored two more goals, showcasing his impeccable accuracy and technique. The other goals for Portugal were scored by talented players, but it was Ronaldo who stole the spotlight with his brilliant performance.
Spain struggled to keep up with Portugal’s pace and couldn’t find an answer to Ronaldo’s dominance. His presence on the field was overwhelming and he created several dangerous opportunities for his team. In addition to his goals, Ronaldo also displayed his skills in dribbling and passing, leaving the Spanish defenders perplexed.
With this convincing victory, Portugal sent a warning to their opponents that they are ready to compete at the highest level. The team showed a perfect combination of skill, determination, and teamwork, led by Ronaldo’s exceptional performance. If they continue in this form, Portugal will certainly be a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming championships.
Football fans around the world were impressed with Ronaldo’s performance and did not miss the opportunity to praise his talent. On social media, the hashtags #CR7 and #Portugal dominated the trends, with fans expressing their support and admiration for the player. Ronaldo is truly a sports icon, and his performance in this friendly match only further strengthened his reputation.
At the end of the game, Ronaldo was named the best player of the match, receiving deserved praise for his exceptional contribution. His dedication to the sport and his pursuit of excellence continue to inspire generations of players worldwide. With his unmatched passion and skill, Ronaldo continues to raise the level of football and leave his mark on the sport’s history.
