Red Bull F1 team doubts Adrian Newey would leave for Ferrari job

Red Bull boss Christian Horner has played down talk he could lose technical boss Adrian Newey to Ferrari, insisting the design genius has 'paternal feelings' for his current team

Ferrari is undergoing a period of change on the back of its disappointing start to the season, and new team principal Marco Mattiacci has not ruled out 'going to market' to hire big technical names if he decides that is necessary.

That talk has prompted rumours that Ferrari will once again make a push to lure Newey to Maranello, having approached him in the past.

But Horner, who was key in bringing Newey to Red Bull from McLaren, sees no reason why the partnership that has proved so successful will come to an end.

"It is almost an annual thing that there is speculation about his future," said Horner.

"But he has always made it clear his feeling towards the team, the paternal feeling he has for Red Bull.

"He has been involved since the beginning and he is much more involved in this team than he has been at any other.

"He enjoys the environment that he is working in, so I think the speculation is purely that.

"But you can understand why Ferrari would be looking."

Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo played down speculation that had linked a host of names - including Newey and Ross Brawn - with his team during a visit to the Spanish Grand Prix.

However, he has made it clear that he wants Mattiacci to focus only on team management rather than get involved in areas that a figure like Newey would do.

"Now he [Mattiacci] needs to do a full immersion in F1, taking care that I don't ask him to become a technician or an expert in aerodynamics, engine or suspension," Montezemolo said.