His want to depart Purple Bull was first reported by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, however the data has been independently verified by BBC Sport with high-level sources near Purple Bull and Newey.

They confirmed that his want to depart stems from his unhappiness over the scenario involving Horner, which has led to a multi-faceted energy battle at Purple Bull.

The staff cleared Horner of wrongdoing after an inside investigation. The complainant, who has since been suspended, has appealed in opposition to the choice.

Horner and Purple Bull motorsport adviser Helmut Marko are in dispute, as are the Thai principal shareholder Chalerm Yoovidhya, who backed Horner, and Purple Bull Gmbh in Austria, who had initially wished to take away him from his place.

Newey has been at Purple Bull since 2005 and has overseen two dominant eras with the staff, from 2010-14 after they received 4 consecutive drivers’ and constructors’ titles with Sebastian Vettel, and the present period with Max Verstappen.

Final yr, Verstappen and Purple Bull produced probably the most dominant season in F1 historical past, the Dutchman profitable 19 of the 22 races and the staff all however one. They appear on target for the same efficiency after profitable 4 of the primary 5 races this season.

Newey has beforehand had a number of championship-winning success at each Williams and McLaren.

As Purple Bull’s chief technical officer, Newey is not working full time on F1 – he’s additionally concerned with the corporate’s different tasks, such because the forthcoming RB17 supercar.

And Horner has once in a while emphasised the strengths of the staff below Newey, led by technical director Pierre Wache.

However the design chief stays the sensible thoughts liable for the idea of the staff’s profitable vehicles and his departure will signify a seismic blow.

It might additionally additional unsettle Verstappen, who is thought to have his personal misgivings concerning the inside scenario on the staff.

Verstappen, who’s below contract to the tip of 2028, has been requested on various events to supply his full backing to Horner and has at all times given equivocal solutions.

However he has repeatedly emphasised his want to maintain the senior staff at Purple Bull in place, and mentioned on the Chinese language Grand Prix final weekend: “I signed a protracted deal. The one factor I mentioned from the start is we wish to have a peaceable surroundings, these days we now have been speaking concerning the automotive.

“I’m joyful about that, I’m proud of the staff and there has by no means been a motive to depart.”

Verstappen is contractually in a position to depart if Marko loses his place – and the driving force was instrumental in preserving the Austrian in place when it emerged on the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in March that his place was below menace.

He’s not believed to have the identical freedom within the occasion of Newey leaving, however he would regard the departure of such a totemic and influential determine as a serious loss.

Mercedes are overtly courting Verstappen and hope to lure him away for 2025 or 2026.