Red Bull team principal Christian Horner said Aston Martin were “slightly premature” in arranging a major event to announce Adrian Newey as their new chief designer.
Horner pointed out Newey is still under contract to Red Bull until the beginning of next year.
“It was obviously a large announcement by Aston,” said Horner. “Adrian has always tended to do his own thing.
“Obviously it was a big moment for that team, they chose to celebrate it perhaps potentially slightly prematurely before he has finished his contract with Red Bull Racing.”
Red Bull announced four months ago that Newey would leave them at the end of the season after 18 years at the team. Although Newey was tipped to join Ferrari at one stage, Horner said his decision to join Aston Martin “wasn’t a great surprise.”
“I think it was becoming clearer and clearer that was the route that he was going to go rather than into retirement or any other team,” he said.
“Obviously it will be a new challenge for him and it will be sad to see when he leaves next year but we wish him all the best for the future.”
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Red Bull have won six constructors’ championship during Newey’s time at the team, while their drivers have won seven titles. Horner said he has fond memories of their time working together.
“Adrian is obviously a very creative guy and he is not your average designer,” he said. “I think he is the only person still in Formula 1 working on a drawing board. Inevitably there will be a process of having to get to know each other and how each other works and so on.
“He is unique in many respects, and I think that Aston will obviously look to draw upon his huge experience.
“I look back with great fondness to the time, the 20 years almost that we spent together, the highs and lows during that period, but look forward to the future and I think we are well positioned for that.”
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