Van Amersfoort Racing denies Adrian Newey joining F3 team

In a statement, VAR’s general manager Rob Niessink explained that "it is clear that someone within the team had provided some unverified information to the media and generated a misinterpretation of Mr Newey’s relationship with the team."

The statement added: "Mr. Adrian Newey is not and will not be working for Van Amersfoort Racing in any shape or form."

Newey’s son Harrison drove for VAR in Formula 4 this year, and he has been strongly tipped to graduate to its F3 squad next season.

‘’Following the good relationship established during the 2015 Formula 4 season, we recently invited Harrison Newey to drive one of our Formula 3 cars during some special testing sessions,” said Niessink.

“Mr. Newey is an enthusiastic supporter of his son and showing interest in his racing activities he attended our recent testing sessions. It is as simple as that.”

The statement concluded: "Van Amersfoort Racing wishes to apologize to Mr. Newey and to all parties concerned, including the media, that may have been misled or offended by the wholly inaccurate statement which was made by a member of the team."