At the Goodwood Festival of Speed Saturday, the legendary F1 designer climbed into Niki Lauda’s Ferrari 312T
Adrian Newey’s next Formula 1 destination is a matter of ongoing speculation throughout the paddock. Ever since it was announced that he was leaving Red Bull in early 2025, rumors have swirled about his next stop in the sport. Would he move to Ferrari? Make a storybook return to Williams or McLaren? Or maybe move over to Aston Martin?
But Saturday morning, the legendary designer and engineer demonstrated a clear preference.
Ferrari.
Specifically, a Ferrari 312T that was once piloted by legendary driver Niki Lauda. As part of the annual Goodwood Festival of Speed Newey climbed into Lauda’s 312T for a run up the Hill:
Adrian Newey might be the expert of design, but he’s clearly also an expert of Niki Lauda’s Ferrari 312T2. He’s absolutely flying up that Hill! #FOS pic.twitter.com/6Kx8XKSz4r
— Goodwood Road & Racing (@GoodwoodRRC) July 13, 2024
Ferrari’s 312T series, which had eight variations, was one of the most successful cars in F1 history. Over those eight versions, Ferrari won four Constructors’ Championships, as well as three Drivers’ Championships. Lauda won two of those titles — 1975 and 1977 — while Jody Scheckter won the other in 1979.
“To be driving Niki’s old car, his Championship-winning car, is so special it really is,” said the legendary designer. “I knew Niki quite well and so to be in here sitting in the same seat and and just trying to think what he must have been experiencing and how he’s prepared himself before the start and everything is really special.
“It’s absolutely amazing and a very fitting tribute to him,” Newey added. “The cars are so different. I mean, I love these cars. The Lotus 49 from ’67, ’68 was the first car I really sort of started to look at and then by the time we got to this car, then I was 15, I did a painting of it actually for my art project.”
Rocketing up the Hill in Lauda’s 312T is not the only notable aspect of Newey’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. The legendary designer also unveiled his passion project on Friday, the RB17 Hypercar. Only 50 of those will be produced, and Red Bull stated that the RB17 will offer owners “F1-equivalent” speed.
So now we have images of Newey in a Ferrari. Are those images foreshadowing of his next F1 destination? Or are they destined to be a footnote in the discussion?
