Red Bull's chief technical officer could be the latest victim of the team's civil war with Christian Horner 'looking to push him out' - and he 'dreams of linking up with Lewis Hamilton'

Christian Horner is reportedly looking to push Adrian Newey - Red Bull's legendary chief technical officer - out of Formula One. 

There are growing tensions between the pair while there is also reportedly an 'open war' between Horner and Red Bull director Helmut Marko, Max Verstappen's mentor. 

Horner has been mired in a scandal following accusations of 'inappropriate behaviours' by a female employee ahead of the 2024 season, though an internal investigation cleared him. 

A spate of sexual messages allegedly from Horner were the spilled to the media and F1 bigwigs, but Red Bull have affirmed he will not be sacked after a shareholder meeting. 

Now Horner could look to get rid of Newey, the 'unhappy' car designer who has helped Red Bull win 13 titles since 2006, according to Auto Motor und Sport via PaddockNews24. 

Christian Horner (right) is reportedly looking to force Red Bull's legendary designer Adrian Newey (left) out of Red Bull's F1 team

Newey has been with Red Bull since 2006, helping them to win 13 titles, and is an icon in F1   

The report claims that Horner wants to push Newey out of F1 and more into the brand's RB17 hypercar project, a two-seater speed demon set to go into proudction in 2025. 

Horner reportedly wants to do so amid F1 budget cap concerns. The current budget cap is £106million, including spending on the car and staff. However, it excludes the salaries of drivers and the three highest-paid members of staff. 

As one of their highest earners, Newey is currently an exception to the cap, so axeing him would free up space for another exception. 

Newey previously said he 'regretted on an emotional level' not working with Lewis Hamilton or Ferrari during his career. 

Ferrari would reportedly be keen to snap him up if he left, meaning he would work with Lewis Hamilton from 2025, as per La Gazzetta dello Sport. 

Newey is a legend of the sport and if Ferrari poached him, it would be a major coup.

The 64-year-old, who was given one of his first senior jobs in F1 by Ian Phillips at March in 1987, has designed cars which have won more than 100 races, 12 constructors’ titles with three different teams and 13 drivers’ titles with seven different racers.

He has won titles with Williams, McLaren and Red Bull and worked with greats of the sport such as Nigel Mansell, Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Mika Hakkinen, Sebastian Vettel and now Max Verstappen.

Newey dreams of working with Lewis Hamilton and Ferrari - the legendary driver's next destination

There is also reportedly an 'open war' between Horner and adviser Helmut Marko, left, who is Max Verstappen's mentor 

Verstappen has a break clause in his contract which would allow him to leave if Marko does

Alongside the developing rift between him and Horner, there is also reportedly an 'open war' between Red Bull's team principal and Marko. 

That could be explosive as Mail Sport's Jonathan McEvoy last week that Verstappen has an astonishing break clause in his contract that allows him to walk out of Red Bull if his ally Marko leaves the team.

The 80-year-old motorsport adviser insisted over the weekend that he won't be suspended after accusations emerged that he had leaked evidence from Red Bull's internal investigation surrounding Horner, but the 'open war' with Horner means all s far from secure. 

Marko had earlier hinted he would quit, a departure which may well have led to world champion driver Max Verstappen going with him in a show of loyalty to his mentor.

But in a fresh twist, Marko told Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf on Sunday that he had considered walking away even before the Horner controversy blew up, such was the divide in the team camp.

'I hope it will all be over as soon as possible,' the Austrian said. 

Horner is envelped in a sex text scandal after a female employee accused him of 'inappropriate behaviour' and messages - purportedly from him - were released

Red Bull have affirmed that they will not sack Horner and cleared him of any wrongdoing 

'I was already thinking about leaving at the end of last year, but I also think we should think about Dietrich [Mateschitz's, the Red Bull founder] legacy, what his ideas were and where they took us. We owe that to him.'

De Telegraaf also reported that Marko had planned to fly back to Europe from Saudi Arabia with Horner but instead opted to take a private jet with Verstappen.

Jos Verstappen, father of Max has sensationally called for Horner's head. He told Mail Sport: 'There is tension here while he remains in position.

'The team is in danger of being torn apart. It can't go on the way it is. It will explode. He is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems.'