Newey to work on Squadra Toro Rosso Car?

By Ian Lockwood
November 17 2005

Perpetual pitlane minnows Minardi, are starting to evolve and grow horns. Squadra Toro Rosso is recruiting, and one of the first areas to benefit is the design team.

Red Bull Racing and Squadra Toro Rosso owner, Dietrich Mateschitz, is investing heavily in his new aquisition. In an interview with Motorsport Aktuell magazine, Mateschitz announced that the design department will double in size. He also hinted that new Red Bull Racing recruit, Adrian Newey, may be asked to contribute to the project, saying, "It's not forbidden that Newey can also look at the Toro Rosso car." 

On the subject of Adrian Newey, Mateschitz denied some media reports that he had lured the top designer away from Mclaren just by writing a big cheque. "Newey did not profit financially from this move," he insisted. "On the contrary. We are not an under-financed team, but we have a third of the budget of others."

Mateschitz said Newey would work alongside ex-Renault & Jordan man Mark Smith, despite F1 speculation that the pair might not want to share the technical limelight.