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It is being reported that McLaren and Aston Martin have emerged as front runners to sign Adrian Newey after he rejected an offer from the Ferrari F1 team. Newey shocked the paddock after he announced his departure from the Red Bull Racing team ahead of the Miami GP this year, ending their 19-year partnership.

With the most decorated aerodynamicist available on the market, it was rumored that he might finally join the Italian team under the leadership of Frederic Vassuer. Many reports even claimed that he and the Maranello-based outfit had signed a contract and joined them for the 2025 season but there were no official statements to confirm the same.

But as per Motorsport Italy, the negotiations between Ferrari and Adrian Newey has faded over the last month and both have moved on from the discussions. The 65-year-old was reportedly entertaining several offers from other teams as well, such as Aston Martin, and on the low-key side a return to McLaren.

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While the approach from Aston Martin has been widely reported of after his infamous factory visit last month, the reports of Newey going back to McLaren have caught several people unaware. He had previously worked with the Woking-based outfit from 1997-2005 and left them to join Red Bull.

One of the reasons for Aston Martin and McLaren emerging as front runners to sign Adrian Newey has been the latter’s wish to not move countries to Italy and stay in the UK. However, none of the parties involved have made any official confirmation on their approach to Newey or vice versa.

F1 pundit provides an update on Adrian Newey’s future in the sport

Sky Sports F1 pundit Ted Kravitz stated that it was clear that Adrian Newey won’t be retiring from the sport anytime soon given his frequent visits to the Red bull paddock, with him still designing for the team and taking notes from a prospective rival’s cars.

After the British GP, Kravitz said:

“I’ve got to tell you about Adrian Newey, who amazingly is still coming to races, looking at the car that he’s not in charge of anymore with his notebook and making notes about the Red Bull to take to wherever he’s going. So clearly, whoever said that they think Adrian Newey is going to retire, are wrong.”

“So, wherever he goes, whether it’s Aston Martin or Ferrari or less likely now, I think, Williams, or Mercedes or McLaren – he’s clearly still turning up in Red Bull gear preparing for his future job. I know he’s not allowed in Red Bull meetings anymore but I did think it was quite interesting that he is still around.”