Newey reveals Alonso’s near-miss move to Red Bull in 2009

Adrian Newey, set to join Aston Martin as Managing Technical Partner next season, has disclosed a fascinating revelation about Fernando Alonso's career trajectory, stating that the Spanish driver came "so close" to signing with Red Bull for the 2009 season.

The paths of these two Formula 1 titans have intertwined throughout their careers, often as rivals, but never as collaborators.

This dynamic is set to change dramatically when Newey joins Aston Martin, where he will finally work alongside the driver he once considered an "arch-enemy."

A history of rivalry and respect

Newey's relationship with Alonso has been one of mutual respect forged through intense competition.

The Spanish driver thwarted Newey's McLaren designs in 2005, clinching the World Championship with Renault.

Later, during Alonso's Ferrari years, he emerged as Red Bull's primary challenger, particularly in the nail-biting 2010 and 2012 seasons.

Reflecting on their history, Newey told media, including PlanetF1.com:

"Fernando, of course, we've battled against each other for so many years – he's been a bit of a kind of arch enemy at times."

However, this rivalry nearly transformed into a partnership over a decade ago.

The near-miss of 2009

In a surprising revelation, Newey disclosed how close Red Bull came to securing Alonso's services.

"We came so close to him joining Red Bull in 2008 for the 2009 season. But unfortunately, it didn't quite happen, which is a great shame, so we continue to battle against each other,"

Newey explained.

This tantalizing "what if" scenario adds a new layer to the narrative of both Alonso's career and Red Bull's ascent to dominance in the early 2010s.

While the partnership didn't materialize then, fate has now brought them together at Aston Martin.

Anticipation for future collaboration

Looking ahead to their impending collaboration, Newey expressed enthusiasm about working with Alonso, describing him as "a legend of the sport."

This sentiment is reciprocated by Alonso, who views Newey not just as a former rival, but as an inspiration.

"I think thanks to Adrian and his talent and cars, I think we all got better as a driver, as engineers, teams, we all had to raise the bar, thanks to him, to be able to compete,"

Alonso stated, emphasizing the impact Newey has had on pushing the entire sport forward.

Aston Martin's ambitious vision

The union of Newey and Alonso at Aston Martin is part of a larger, ambitious vision for the team.

Alonso highlighted the rapid progress, mentioning the new factory, the partnership with Honda, and the upcoming wind tunnel as indicators of Aston Martin's commitment to success.

"Definitely the team of the future, I would say,"

Alonso remarked, underlining his belief in the project.

"For me, it's going to be an incredible opportunity professionally to work with Adrian and to keep wearing this green colour, which I'm very proud to be part of."