Adrian Newey failed to rule out a Red Bull exit amid speculation he could be tempted by a huge Aston Martin offer.
Formula 1 design legend Newey has been with Red Bull since 2006 and has overseen the creation of every one of the team's title-winning cars. Aged 65, he now serves as their chief technical officer while technical director Pierre Wache oversees day-to-day development of their racing machines.
But he could be tempted by the idea of a new challenge - and a huge payday. Lawrence Stroll, Aston Martin's billionaire owner, is said to have personally extended a huge offer to Newey at last month's Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.
The 65-year-old did not travel to the Australian Grand Prix but was present as Max Verstappen won Sunday's race in Japan. Speaking to RacingNews365 at Suzuka, in his first public comments since that Aston Martin offer was reported, Newey said he had not given much thought to what lies ahead.
He said: "I enjoy [it]. Ever since I was 10 or so, certainly by 12, I wanted to be a designer - I don't think I knew the word 'engineer' - in motor racing and, ideally, Formula 1. That's what I [put] all my teenage years towards. I managed to get that first job in motor racing when I graduated.
"I've hugely enjoyed it, and I continue to enjoy it. So I think as long as I continue to enjoy it and the team wants me then I'll continue to do it for the moment and then we'll have to see in the future. I don't tend to plan too far forward."
Also speaking in Suzuka, Aston Martin team principal Mike Krack denied the claim that his team is going all-out to convince Newey to join. Asked by Sky Sports if the Silverstone-based squad had made an approach, he simply replied: "No!"
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Pressed on the matter, he expanded: "Look, we have a very strong technical team with Dan [Fallows], with Tom [McCullough], with Luca [Furbatto]. We were joined lately by Bob Bell. We're quite happy with what we have at the moment."
Technical director Fallows joined in 2022 having spent many years working alongside Newey. And many of their car updates since have had obvious similarities to Red Bull designs, leading to some suggestions that Aston Martin are trying to find success by taking heavy inspiration from the defending champions' designs.
But Krack refuted that suggestion, adding: "When the regulations are the way that they are and consistent over the years, I think you will see a general trend of convergence between the cars. We know the cars are all converging to a similar philosophy, so I don't think there is anything special on ours compared to the others, to be honest."