Newey to leave McLaren for Red Bull

Red Bull announced a major coup yesterday with the signing from McLaren of top Formula One designer Adrian Newey, whose cars won a string of titles in the 1990s. Red Bull said in a statement that the 46-year-old Briton would be joining them as chief technical officer at the end of February next year.

The season starts in Bahrain on March 12. The signing is further evidence of Red Bull's ambition, with the team owned by Austrian energy drink billionaire Dietrich Mateschitz having already done a deal to use Ferrari engines next year.

Newey's reputation as Formula One's top aerodynamicist and designer was cemented by his time at Williams from 1990 to 1997 and then at McLaren.

Williams won five constructors' and four drivers' championships with his cars while McLaren were champions in 1998 with Mika Hakkinen taking the title that year and in 1999. His departure will be a blow for the Mercedes-powered team who won 10 races this year and finished runners-up to Renault with what was widely considered to be the quickest car on the starting grid.

Newey will also be reunited at Red Bull with Britain's David Coulthard, who spent nine seasons at McLaren up to the end of 2004.

There was no immediate comment from McLaren, who successfully fought an attempt by Jaguar - the team Red Bull bought last November - to sign Newey in 2001.

Jaguar said then that Newey had signed a binding contract but within hours McLaren put out a statement saying that their man would be staying after all.

"On reflection, shortly after agreeing to join Jaguar there was a realisation that changing teams was not the way to go for me," Newey said at the time.

The designer, who worked for March and Leyton House before Williams, has said repeatedly in recent years that he was considering taking a break from Formula One. He has also expressed an interest in America's Cup yacht design.

Britain's Autosport magazine reported last month that he was again considering his future.

"I will certainly be in F1 next year but that does not necessarily mean I will be at McLaren," he said.