With Adrian Newey set to leave Red Bull next season and rumours pointing to Maranello, Anthony Davidson says he “may have” triggered Lewis Hamilton’s move to Ferrari.
While Hamilton broke the net in February when the veteran Mercedes driver announced he would leave the team at the end of this season to join Ferrari, it was Newey’s turn last week.
After 19 seasons, 12 league titles and potentially two more with Red Bull, the prominent design guru will leave the team early next year.
Newey, like Hamilton, signed a two-year extension last season and then opted out early.
There has been speculation that the 65-year-old Briton’s next move will be Italy, where he will sign for Hamilton at Ferrari.
If this turns out to be true, the important question is whether Hamilton knew this before making the surprising decision to leave Mercedes for Ferrari.
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Asked if Hamilton had “an idea” in the process of signing with Ferrari that Newey could join, former F1 driver Davidson told Sky Sports: “It’s possible that it was. “
“Maybe that’s part of the reason why that triggered Lewis’ surprising switch to Ferrari.
“Mercedes had a one-year contract and an option on the table for Lewis, and Lewis took over where he was in the option phase of the contract to leave and head to the red suit.
Adrian did this before Lewis made the signal?Did Lewis make the signal because of this?
“It’s the chicken-and-egg story, wasn’t it who got here first?
“But I think Lewis has taken the first step. Newey, it’s not the first time they’ve tried to leave, or they’re doing it because there was a time in his time at Red Bull when he was looking to go to the America’s Cup for example, and he wanted to leave.
“He actually left the team for a while and stepped back and let the rest of the design team push the Red Bull concept further. And obviously, now he’s back. “
“So it’s not the first time he’s been in and out for a number of years at Red Bull.
“So maybe it’s the right time for him to leave and head somewhere else. Will it also be the red team?
Asked in Miami about the possibility of racing with Newey, Hamilton said he would like it “a lot. “
“Adrian has a wonderful history and track record and he’s just done an amazing job in his career by getting involved with the groups and the wisdom that he has and I think he would be an amazing addition.
“They already have a wonderful team. They are already making great progress, abundant progress. His car is faster this year. But yes, it would be a privilege to paint with him. “
“If I had to make a list of other people I’d like to paint with, he’d probably be the most sensible on the list. “
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