Newey playing increased role in Red Bull

Red Bull had been expected to emerge as the main threat to Mercedes this season, but a combination of wind tunnel correlation issues and an aero-efficient concept that did not deliver enough downforce has hampered its efforts.

The team introduced a big update for the Spanish Grand Prix which has appeared to help it close the gap to the front – especially in qualifying – but the team is well aware that even more progress is needed.

However, with Newey playing a more public role in the team efforts, Red Bull boss Christian Horner says that his star designer's influence has been steadily increasing since the team's situation became clear in pre-season testing.

Asked about his presence in Spain, Horner said: "He has just been listening very carefully to what the drivers have been having to say and it is a bit like a trip to the doctors.

"He has been very keen to understand what the drivers' feedback and comments are, and I am sure he will be looking to evolve this package accordingly.

"[Over the winter] he has been involved 50 percent of the time in the background of this car, but since the Barcelona test he has been very involved. I think that will continue for the time being."

Newey's availability to take on a bigger role than before with the F1 team has been helped because prior commitments he has to work on Aston Martin's hypercar project have eased off for now.

"He hasn't wound them [the duties] down but, within a cycle, his element is now done or is coming to a conclusion," said Horner.

"It goes to the design world now. Obviously there are other iterations that he will be looking at later in the year, but for now the vast majority of [his efforts] have been heavily focused on F1."

Newey's ability to spend more time on the RB13 is especially important because, although he no longer wishes to work in F1 all the time, processes are still put in place that make him a vital element of the project.

"He has obviously been involved," added Horner. "He has sat in the meetings weekly, he has been very involved in this development of the car and the concept of this car. The design group is designed to accommodate the way that Adrian works in a fairly unique manner."