Former Ferrari engineer Ernest Knoors has warned Red Bull that a mass exodus could be on the horizon if Adrian Newey opts to depart.

Newey has long been linked with an exit and is reportedly set for talks over his future, with Ferrar among his suitors.

“I went through this myself at Ferrari,” Knoors told Racing News 365.

“At one point the Michael Schumacher period came to an end there, Ross Brawn then also left. When such a leading person decides to go, it’s always something you have to wonder about: where is this going?

“Whether Wache has more influence doesn’t really matter that much. When such a leading figure of your team and such a greatness leaves, it always creates question marks with the people who work under it. It creates unrest in that organisation.

“It makes people, engineers and mechanics, more open to offers from other teams. And you always have that with a team that performs at the top of its game for a very long time.

“At some point people then start looking around, maybe the people who are not quite at the top. Are there opportunities? Are there openings on other teams where they can step up?”