Newey identified Red Bull F1 set-up issues on return from injury

Newey had missed several races while he recovered from injuries he sustained in a cycling accident during the summer break, but he was finally able to return to F1 action at the Turkish Grand Prix. 

Speaking in an interview with Sky Germany, Red Bull motorsport advisor Helmut Marko revealed that Newey was able to instantly identify the team’s set-up problems at Istanbul Park that threatened to hamper the weekend. 

"We are well positioned, but of course Newey is the figurehead,” Marko replied when asked how Newey’s prolonged absence had impacted the team. 

“And his absence just from motivation is seen. In the early stages we didn't know how serious the injury was. He had to have several operations.

“But now he is back. He is now not fully fit, but he is there to do his job and has also immediately recognised the difficulties we had in terms of set-up.”

Marko added that further meetings between Newey and the drivers were planned in the wake of the Turkish GP in a bid to get to the bottom of Red Bull’s recent set-up headaches. 

Newey’s return to work comes at a key time for Red Bull as the 2021 title battle heads into its closing stages with just six races remaining this season. 

Max Verstappen holds a slender six-point advantage over rival Lewis Hamilton in the drivers’ world championship heading into this weekend’s United States Grand Prix. 

Meanwhile, Valtteri Bottas’ victory last time out enabled Mercedes to extend its lead over Red Bull in the constructors’ standings to 36 points. 

Mercedes has won five of the last six races at the Circuit of the Americas and Red Bull is expecting the reigning world champions to continue to hold the upper hand in Austin. 

“We know the next race in Austin has been a Hamilton stronghold for quite a few years now,” said Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. 

“But then Mexico, Brazil hopefully the higher-altitude races tended to be quite strong for us in the past."