Adrian Newey has been surprisingly named as Aston Martin’s Formula 1 team principal starting from the 2026 season. Following the Las Vegas Grand Prix, there were rumors that Aston Martin planned to replace Andy Cowell. Names like Christian Horner, Andreas Seidl, and Mattia Binotto were also mentioned in connection with Cowell’s position. However, before the upcoming race in Qatar, Aston Martin confirmed that Newey will take over as team principal next season. Meanwhile, Cowell will shift to the role of chief strategy officer, focusing on strengthening the technical collaboration between the team, Honda, Aramco, and Valvoline, and ensuring smooth integration of the new power unit, fuel, and chassis.
Newey expressed optimism about the talent he has observed in the team over the past nine months and is eager to lead the team as it transitions into a works team in 2026, a year that will bring new challenges due to updated regulations. Cowell stated that his new role is timely as they prepare for the structural changes needed to support Newey and the broader team organization.
Aston Martin is determined to build a race-winning car for 2026. Owner Lawrence Stroll has made significant investments, including upgrading the Silverstone facility and bringing Newey on board as managing technical partner. Starting in 2026, the team will officially partner with Honda, making them a works team. Since Stroll’s takeover, Aston Martin’s best championship finish has been fifth, with their standout season being 2023 where Fernando Alonso secured multiple podium finishes. Alonso will continue racing alongside Lance Stroll in 2026.
Fan Take: This shake-up at Aston Martin is huge for racing fans as it signals the team’s serious intent to contend for championships with one of the sport’s most renowned technical minds at the helm. Newey’s leadership could reshape the competitive landscape and heighten excitement around the 2026 season and beyond.
