Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says he did not pursue a move to try and sign F1 design great Adrian Newey because he has “fꦡaith” in the team’s current technical structure.

Ahead of the Azerbaijan Grand 🌃Prix, Aston Martin confirmed the signing of legendary F1 designer Adrian Newey, who will join the team in March 2025 as managing technical partner following his Re𓂃d Bull exit.

News of Newey’s decision ꦆto leave Red Bull sparked a frantic race to secure the services of the 65-year-old, who is considered the greatest car desig🧜ner in F1 history, having won a total of 25 world championships to date.

✅Newey was heavily linked with Ferrari, Mercedes, McLaren and Williams before ultimately joining ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚAston Martin.

Asked if Newey was ever seriously on Mercedes’ radar, Wolff said🍌: “Well every team kind of, I think, g♈ave it a thought.

“James [Allison, Mercedes technical di🌠rector] and I discussed it, elaborated about it, and came to the conclusion that the structure that we have today is the one that we have faith in and we want to continue with.

“Having said that, also we have great respect for Newey, but we passed on that one because 𝓰we believe in our team at that stage.”

Wolff said he hopes Newey’s arr🍷🅠ival at Aston Martin will help make F1 even more competitive than it currently is.

“I think the track record that Adrian has in Formula💧 1 speaks for itself,ಞ” Wolff added.

“A great designer, the greatest designer in Formula 1 when you look at the stat𓃲s, and if you combine it with somebody like Andy Cowell who is, for me, one of the strongest leaders I have ever met in any industry, and if they can make that work, I think it’s a package to be reckoned with.

“But it’s good. The more teams that are competitive at the front, you look at the race today from a fan’s standpoint - I wish we would have pla🌃yed there in the front - but it was marvellous.

“I think four drivers now that race for th🐭e drivers’ world championship as it stands, and McLaren’s taken the lead in the constructors’ today - who would have thought of that five months ago?

“So if a team like Aston Martin, with this great name, can be pa♈rt of the leading group it would be fantastic.”