Former Ferrari engine engineer Ernest Knoors foresees major issues for Red Bull if and when Adrian Newey decides to depart – this coming amid heavy speculation the chief technical officer is set to leave the team.

Adrian Newey is believed to be nearing the end of his Red Bull tenure. Whilst it has not yet been confirmed, it is understood the 65-year-old is unhappy at the team and is seeking an exit, with a number of rivals mooted as potential next homes for him in F1.

Amid the speculation and uncertainty surrounding the situation, RacingNews365 spoke to former F1 engine engineer Ernest Knoors, who worked for the likes of Ferrari and BMW.

The Dutchman foresees a mass exodus at Red Bull if Newey does decide to depart, drawing upon his own experience to inform his view.

“I went through this myself at Ferrari,” he explained as a point of comparison.

“At one point the Michael Schumacher period came to an end there, Ross Brawn then also left. When such a leading person decides to go, it’s always something you have to wonder about: where is this going?”

Newey, a veteran of Leyton House, Williams and McLaren is currently chief technical officer at Red Bull, having joined the team in 2006.

However, recently, stories have emerged suggesting the 65-year-old’s role is less involved with car development than it used to be. It is believed that Pierre Waché is increasingly stepping into the role once filled by Newey.

But for Knoors, this does not matter when you consider the influence Newey holds at Red Bull.

“Whether Waché has more influence doesn’t really matter that much. When such a leading figure of your team and such a greatness leaves, it always creates question marks with the people who work under it. It creates unrest in that organisation,” he contended.