Jeremy Clarkson insisted that Aston Martin are now a 'force to be reckoned with' after snatching up legendary Formula One designer Adrian Newey.
The 65-year-old left Red Bull earlier this year amid the controversy surrounding Christian Horner.
The Red Bull team principal was accused of sexual harassment and coercive behaviour earlier this year, allegations that have since been investigated twice and cleared Horner of any wrongdoing while the 50-year-old always maintained his innocence.
But the cloud it left over Red Bull had a lasting impact as they lost Newey, who was already unhappy with Horner and the power dynamics in the team.
Several F1 teams were keen on picking up Newey including Ferrari but Aston Martin have managed a major coup by landing the design chief.
An Aston Martin spokesperson said: "Adrian has been linked to many teams and would be an asset to any team, but we don't have anything to announce."
Iconic TV presenter Clarkson has been left gobsmacked by the move after the British car manufacturers announced the decision on Tuesday in a grand unveiling.
Speaking on Heart radio, Clarkson said: “I broke that story about six weeks ago.
"Everyone said he was going to Ferrari, and I just met him, and he said, ‘Oh, I’m looking for a house around you.’
“And I thought, ‘If you’re going to Ferrari, why are you buying a house in Oxfordshire?’ Aston, well, they’ll win.”
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Heart DJ Jamie Theakston replied: “He’s quite good, isn’t he?”
Clarkson said back: “He’s very good, and they seem to have a limitless supply of money, and I think Aston’s going to be a force to be reckoned with.”
Newey had been with Red Bull since 2005 and has been credited with the genius behind their two dominant eras from that period.
From 2010 to 2014, they won four consecutive drivers’ and constructors’ titles with Sebastian Vettel while Red Bull's current era led by Max Verstappen has been incredibly successful.
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Allegations surrounding Christian Horner proved the catalyst for Adrian Newey's decision to leave Red Bull
PA
Last year, Red Bull produced the most dominant season in F1 history as Verstappen won 19 out of 22 races.
But problems have mounted in recent weeks at Red Bull, even concluding in Verstappen revealing he will not turn up for work if they continue to crumble.
After finishing sixth at the Italian Grand Prix, the Dutchman fumed: "In the race my battery was relatively empty, while fighting Lando of course.
"Then I had to go to a certain setting. at some point they have to tell me when I can go back to the quicker setting.
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Adrian Newey has signed a £30m-a-year deal with Aston Martin
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"I ask: 'Can I go back?', 'Oh yeah, yeah you can'.
"Then I thought 'What is this? you guys have all the data the entire time, you guys can exactly see when I can make those steps'.
"I shouldn't have to ask when I can go back. We might be in nobody's land, but you still have to be on top of things. Otherwise, I can just stay home."
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