autoX spoke with the architect of Red Bull Racing’s success, Adrian Newey. Here are his views on everything from the ultimate F1 car, the fact that he still picks up a pencil to draw out new designs, Sebastian Vettel, and the future of Formula 1

Is there such a thing as the ultimate F1 car – or is it just a constant process of evolution?

The car is always driven by the regulations. If we did not have the constraints of regulations, then the cars would be very different. The Playstation X2010 game is a look at what a Formula 1 car might look like without regulations. Within the regulations we currently have, in theory, there must eventually be an optimum, which we will slowly evolve towards. That process of evolution gets upset by the fact that rules do change from time-to-time, and also very often you can have parallel solutions, which deliver almost the same ultimate performance but in a different manner. It’s almost like two parallel paths, which is ultimately more fruitful may take several seasons to find out. That’s why people sometimes date different parts – you might have a car which is initially more successful because that path has been easier to start with, but ultimately less fruitful.

What’s so special about this year – your cars are not only the quickest by a country mile, but also the most reliable?

We have certainty had good reliability to date. We have tried to be very disciplined in the way we design, develop and operate the car. That can change very rapidly, cars are very complicated, they have seven thousands components in them and any one of which can bring the car to a stop. It is something that we have to constantly strive for – it is an on-going process. Performance with this year’s car is the third generation of a lineage of the 2009 car, the RB5. That car was built with this current set of regulations, which in itself is very different to the past, and we have then evolved the car to those regulations. The RB5 was a very solid foundation from which we have been able to develop. We have really discontinued on our development, and have tried to introduce new things, such as the exhaust. This has been copied by other people almost in their entirety along the grid. We just have to try to come up with the next new thing.

Do you miss the days when you could pick up a pencil and actually draw out a design?

No, because I still do!

With all the various types of technology packed into an F1 car of today, does it actually diminish or increase the role that a driver plays in the success of the package?

It changes it – it’s almost like comparing a Spitfire WWII pilot to a current fighter pilot. Gear changes are much easier, he doesn’t have to worry about temperatures and pressures because that’s managed and monitored on the pit wall. He does have other workloads – he has to be much fitter than before because the G-forces are so high. There is a lot to manage with the usage of KERS, DRS, changing the break balance around the lap, etc. The skill-set is different, but I don’t think it’s diminished in terms of the drivers contribution to the performance of the car.

You’ve seen a lot of world champions in your time, how does Vettel rank among them?

I do not think it’s fair to get into rankings. Sebastian is clearly a very bright young lad who thinks a lot about his task, works hard at it, and is constantly looking for ways to improve himself and the car. He spends a lot of the time in the evening with his engineers going through the set up of the car. He learns every time he gets into the car, and very rarely makes the same mistake twice.

You’re not too bad behind the wheel yourself – how much of your own racing helps in the process of designing a championship winning F1 car?

It doesn’t really help in the design process – it does, however, help in the process of translating the drivers concerns into engineering solutions.

How special was it for you to drive the RB5 up the Goodwood hill in 2010 – and how much did you have to restrain yourself from pushing too hard once in the cockpit of a Formula 1 car?

It was very special to drive the car. It was great fun to have the opportunity to drive a Formula 1 car. Unfortunately, the Goodwood Hill is not a place to make a mistake, as its 3 meters wide so I was very restrained and took it very carefully. I would love to take the car out on a proper circuit.

What’s been your best time in F1?

I have been lucky enough to have several highlights. That first race win and first World Championship are very special. The first race win with Toro Rosso and Sebastian at Monza in the wet was very special as well. Without a doubt one of the highlights was winning the Championships last year with Red Bull Racing because we were a young team, starting with the ashes of Jaguar in 2005, and I joined with the aspiration of developing the team so that it could hopefully one day win a race or a Championship in the future – it was very special to actually achieve this.

Who’s been the most visionary team owner that you’ve worked for?

Red Bull Racing is different than the other three teams I’ve worked for, because it’s owned by the parent company – and, as such, it’s a Racing Team subsidiary whereas the others where all independent outfits existing purely as Motor Racing Teams. They are all very different from each other – all I can say is that I hugely enjoy working for Red Bull.

Technologically, how do you see the future of Formula 1?

I think what is crucial for Formula 1’s health is that we maintain the balance of the three main performance contributors which contributes to the success of a car and the team – that is the driver, chassis, and the engine, they all contribute. If we end up in a position where only one or two of those factors make the difference in winning and losing races, then I think that will be unhealthy. Particularly if it became that the chassis was so heavily restricted that it was just a driver and engine formula, because, at that point, it really becomes which team can afford to buy the best driver and which team happens to have the best engine. At the moment, a small team such as us can come from the mid-field with some clever ideas and propel itself to the front. If it became driver and engine only, that would not be possible anymore.