In a major shakeup for the Aston Martin Formula One team, technical mastermind Adrian Newey will take over as team principal starting from the 2026 season.
Leadership Reshuffle at Silverstone
The surprise announcement confirms Newey, widely regarded as the greatest technical brain in modern Formula One, will assume control of trackside operations. This move comes amid a disappointing competitive season for the Silverstone-based outfit, which currently sits eighth in the constructors' championship with just two races remaining.
Current team principal and CEO Andy Cowell will transition to a newly created role as chief strategy officer. Pressure had been building on Cowell following the team's lacklustre performance and reported disagreements with Newey, who holds a managing technical partner position.
Newey's Unprecedented Move
This appointment marks the first time the 66-year-old design genius has taken on the team principal role throughout his storied career. Despite being instrumental in securing 13 drivers' world championships and 12 constructors' titles across three different teams, Newey has always focused on technical leadership rather than overall team management.
Newey's commitment to Aston Martin represents a major coup for team owner Lawrence Stroll, the ambitious Canadian billionaire. The celebrated engineer ended his nearly two-decade association with Red Bull earlier this year, sparking a fierce bidding war for his services before committing his long-term future to Aston Martin in September 2024. Newey is also a shareholder in the team.
Positioning for the 2026 Regulations
The timing of this leadership change appears strategically aligned with Formula One's upcoming regulatory overhaul in 2026. This period will see Aston Martin transition to a full works team, presenting both significant opportunity and considerable technical challenge.
"Over the last nine months, I have seen great individual talent within our team," Newey stated. "I'm looking forward to taking on this additional role as we put ourselves in the best possible position to compete in 2026."
He emphasised that Cowell's new position, focusing on power unit integration with key partners, would be pivotal to the team's future success.
Lawrence Stroll expressed confidence in the new structure, saying: "Andy Cowell has been a great leader this year." Regarding Newey's promotion, Stroll added: "I'm also pleased that Adrian Newey will step into the team principal role, which will enable him to make full use of his creative and technical expertise."
The team, currently fielding drivers Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll, believes these strategic changes will maximise their potential ahead of the sport's next major evolution.
