Fred Vasseur gives snappy Adrian Newey response as Lewis Hamilton dream up in the air

Fred Vasseur has insisted that the ‘most important thing’ in his mind is prioritising team morale after refusing to answer a question about Adrian Newey. The legendary engineer has been heavily linked with a move to Ferrari after announcing his departure from Red Bull ahead of the Miami Grand Prix.

Ferrari have been chasing Newey’s signature for years but have never been able to lure the Brit to Maranello, but with Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton signed up for the 2025 campaign and the team on a strong upward trajectory, that could soon change.

In an interview with Motorsport Italy, Vasseur was asked whether he was in talks with Newey. He replied: “​​On this subject, I don't want to make any comment because any answer could be interpreted.

“The most important thing is the stability of the team, as I said before, I think we are doing a good job in the right direction. The most important thing for me is the stability of the group, it is much more important than individuals and I would add that I am really satisfied with the current situation.”

Newey has kept his cards close to his chest when discussing his future plans. Initially, the 65-year-old suggested that a break from the spotlight would be on the cards, but in an interview soon after, he confirmed that he would more than likely return to F1.

Discussing his future ahead of the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix, Newey explained: “I feel a little bit tired at the moment, but at some point I’ll probably go again,” before adding: that he was “seriously considering changing teams, going somewhere else and doing another four or five years or whatever”.

Should Newey make his return to the sport with Ferrari, it would leave Hamilton delighted. Discussing the possibility of working with the Essex-born engineer, he said: “Adrian's known for... he's got such a great history, track record and obviously he's just done an amazing job through his career in engaging with teams and the knowledge that he has.

"I think he would be an amazing addition [to Ferrari]. I think they've already got a great team, they're already making huge progress and strides forward... the car is quicker this year. But yeah, it would be a privilege to work with him."