Marko: Newey inspired by Honda switch

  • Published on 16 Jan 2019 15:59
  • 6
  • By: Fergal Walsh

Red Bull advisor Dr Helmut Marko says that Adrian Newey has been boosted by the team's new partnership with Honda. Red Bull will run the Japanese manufacturer's engines for the 2019 season, after it provided units to Toro Rosso in 2018.

Newey is widely regarded as one of the best technical directors in the field, but has taken on other projects in recent years, including working with Aston Marin on their hypercar, the 'Valkyrie'. 

However, Marko says that the Briton has become more inspired in light of the deal with Honda: “Newey doesn’t want a normal working day anymore,” the Austrian said to Autosport. “He is working for us on a daily allowance. He was very fascinated and interested in the Valkyrie project.

“You always need new tasks for him. If Newey knows that you have no chance with the engine, then you don’t have the same Newey as now. He was at the Honda Development Centre in Sakura. We’ve found a way to meet his personal needs. It brings value to the team for us.”

Marko described Newey's engineering intellect, stating that he is able to tell if something will not work on the car before any data shows up: “Newey’s a crucial factor. When the new aerodynamic rules came [in 2017], we were completely off. By Barcelona, we had a competitive car again.

“That’s Newey. He sees what’s not right, even in the design stage, without all the technical data. He can tell you: ‘That won’t work’. He doesn’t have a computer – you feel right at home in his office! He just has a big drawing board. Another person translates it into the computer language so that the others can understand it. [But] what he designs is 95% correct.”

Replies (6)

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  • If it really really pinky finger on it is true, then good. Im happy for the fella. Just wish I woulda heard it from his own mouth, rather than from the mouth of the Mouth of Sauron.

    • + 1
    • Jan 16 2019 - 20:00
  • boudy

    Posts: 1,168

    Not sure why he would lie about that sort of thing, Newey really got engaged as soon as he saw what Verstappen was doing with his car it's sort of the way the best drivers attract the best engineers, this extends out to all parts of the company. For an designer to measure themselves with the best they need the an power unit that supports them instead of hindering. So in effect what has been said here is that Newey believes that they have an shot at it after seeing what Honda was doing.

    I think that Honda is doing something different with their PU than any other manufacturer based on the fact that their engine noise is so different to all the other engines.

    • + 0
    • Jan 16 2019 - 22:03
    • Yeah, it really has a unique sound, doesnt it? Im tying it to Ferrari in terms of best sound in my personal list. Its a much smaller engine for one thing. The rest is probably only stuff Honda, McLaren and RB know.

      • + 0
      • Jan 17 2019 - 06:47
  • kngrthr

    Posts: 203

    fast as fury but break a lot.
    that's my prediction.
    a bit like the original Renault turbos

    • + 0
    • Jan 17 2019 - 14:20
  • Vet5

    Posts: 225

    "I'd rather have a fast, unreliable engine than a slow reliable engine"

    Don't ask me who said it, pretty sure it was Lauda, could be wrong, but something I agree with to be fair

    • + 0
    • Jan 17 2019 - 15:21
  • cricho

    Posts: 80

    Why doesn't A. Newey say it himself ?
    HELLmut is always speaking for someone else ......

    • + 0
    • Mar 16 2019 - 03:18

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