Alonso says Newey ‘genius’ overrated

Adrian Newey is a “genius” but his contribution to a team’s success is overrated, according to Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso.

As technical boss, Briton Newey has also won titles with Williams and McLaren and is credited as a core reason for Red Bull’s current success.

But Alonso told Spain’s Marca sports newspaper at the Ferrari summer media event in the Italian Dolomites: “In F1, there is no magic, no genius who can do everything but still everyone talks about Newey.

“He really is very good and he has made a great car, but he was the same genius for the first five years and their cars were no so good.

“To have success you need many things, including a group of intelligent people, budget — without just the right mix it is not possible.

“Newey would not go to Virgin and win the world championship without the right structure,” added Alonso.

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