Newey critical of ‘GP1’ era

Ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix Red Bull Racing announced that they had signed a new multi-year agreement with chief technical officer Adrian Newey.

The deal ended any rumours linking him with an unlikely move to Ferrari.

However the news wasn’t all great for Red Bull Racing as next years car will be the last that Newey is heavily involved in.

Instead the 55-year-old is taking a step back from Formula One and will be involved in new projects for Red Bull Technology.

‘I am looking forward to some different challenges, I’ve had a great time in Formula 1, but it is time to get involved in different things,’ Newey told Sky Sports at the time.

But it would seem that Newey isn’t just looking for a new challenge, he has become somewhat disillusioned with Formula One.

Seen by many as the greatest ever F1 designer, Newey has in the past been critical of the new regulations in the sport.

He believes that there isn’t enough scope for designers to make an impact or a difference in Formula One any more.

Even ahead of the 2014 Formula One World Championship Newey was sounding the alarm bells, stating that Formula One would become more of an engine formula rather than one based on aerodynamics, so it isn’t just a case of crying at the end of Red Bull Racing’s own dominance.

?I must say, my fellow F1 technical directors have been like turkeys voting for Christmas.? he told Motorsport Magazine.

He continued: ?There have been a whole host of factors playing their parts in my decision to leave F1, and a lot of mixed emotions, I felt it was time to challenge myself in something different and that?s certainly a factor. But at the same time I do think the regs have become too restrictive. We?re in danger, chassis-wise, of becoming GP1. Everybody?s converging on cars that look more and more similar. We?re back to ?paint the cars white and it?s difficult to spot the difference? ? especially next year when we even lose the different noses.?