Adrian Newey is understood to have held talks with Ferrari this week after being released from his Red Bull contract early — a departure that was confirmed by the world championship-winning team on Wednesday.

A move to Italy would bring Formula One’s most successful designer into partnership with Lewis Hamilton, who is joining the Scuderia from Mercedes next year.

The Newey deal has yet to be done, but well-informed contacts suggest Ferrari want the 65-year-old to act as their ‘super consultant’. He currently earns £15million a year and could double his salary.

It is expected he would start in time to have a pivotal hand in the development of the next generation of Ferrari cars ahead of a major revamp of the regulations in 2026.

Italy’s Gazzetta dello Sport reported Newey spoke to Ferrari team principal Fred Vasseur in London on Tuesday — a story indicated to be correct to Mail Sport. We can further reveal that several key F1 figures were in London this week, including Red Bull managing director Oliver Mintzlaff.

Red Bull have confirmed the imminent departure of F1’s most successful designer Adrian Newey

Team chief Christian Horner (pictured with wife Geri Halliwell) will have to do without the mastermind behind Red Bull’s design

Newey is a legendary F1 designer and could take his services to Ferrari after his departure

Newey’s exit is an evident blow to Red Bull and embattled boss Christian Horner, the team principal who brought Newey from McLaren to Red Bull nearly 20 years ago. They have since won seven drivers’ titles in two stints together, through Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen.

Newey will continue to attend races with Red Bull this season, including in Miami this weekend. He is due to travel there in Horner’s jet today.

Newey will still work on his beloved RB17 supercar project before leaving the company next spring.

Red Bull insist Newey’s departure is not directly linked to the 𝑠e𝑥 scandal that has engulfed the team since allegations of coercive behaviour were made against Horner by a female employee in February, but driven by growing resentment at how he has been less than fully credited for the team’s success. He was on the brink of resigning last year, too, but instead accepted an improved offer.

The scandal — which has seen Horner, 50, cleared in an internal investigation, subject to an ongoing appeal — stirred the pot further.

It is understood Newey felt Horner was grabbing too much of the limelight and that credit for his own input was being unevenly shared with his French design colleague Pierre Wache.

Horner paid tribute to ‘true legend’ and ‘friend’ Newey as the world champions confirmed his exit

The Red Bull chief, who has won seven world championships with Newey, paid tribute to the outgoing veteran

Newey is thought to believe credit is being too unevenly taken by the constructor’s chief engineer of performance engineering Pierre Wache

Newey could now be set to join Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari in his bid to win an eighth world title

Newey’s upcoming availability is a massive boost to Hamilton, 39, as he seeks a record eighth title, this time in red.

Newey is the greatest technical guru Formula One has ever known, having triumphed with Williams, starting with Nigel Mansell’s 1992 championship-dominating car, and McLaren, before being poached by Red Bull. In all, the nerdish genius is behind an eye-watering 25 drivers’ and constructors’ titles.

I understand Newey will either join Ferrari — the most likely eventuality — or retire. There is no other team that he would imaginably join.