Aston Martin has confirmed a major shake-up at the top, with technical mastermind Adrian Newey set to become Team Principal from the start of next year — a move that signals a bold shift in the outfit’s leadership approach.
The legendary designer officially joined Aston Martin as Managing Technical Partner on March 1, following close to twenty years shaping Red Bull’s success. Now, his remit expands dramatically: from 2026, he’ll not only steer the team’s technical direction, but also take charge of trackside performance and all things F1 operations.
Newey’s promotion comes alongside a reshuffle for current Team Principal and CEO Andy Cowell, who has spent the past 12 months restructuring the Silverstone squad in preparation for its full works entry next season. Cowell will transition into the newly-created role of Chief Strategy Officer, shifting focus to the delicate — and crucial — business of aligning Aston Martin with its technical and performance partners: Honda, Aramco, and Valvoline.
The team says this leadership reboot has been crafted to lean into each figure’s “individual strengths and expertise, ensuring organisational efficiency” ahead of the monumental rule changes arriving in 2026.
Cowell will now report directly to Executive Chairman Lawrence Stroll, who will retain oversight of the wider business as the outfit navigates its next evolution.
Newey, sounding energised by the challenge ahead, said:
“Over the last nine months, I have seen great individual talent within our team. I’m looking forward to taking on this additional role as we put ourselves in the best possible position to compete in 2026, where we will face an entirely new position with Aston Martin now a works team combined with the considerable challenge faced by the new regulations. Andy’s new role, focusing on the integration of the new PU with our three key partners, will be pivotal in this journey.”
Stroll also paid tribute to Cowell’s influence in 2024, stating:
“Andy Cowell has been a great leader this year. He’s focused on building a world-class team and getting them to work well together, as well as fostering a culture that puts the race car back at the heart of what we do. This leadership change is a mutual decision we have reached in the interest of the team. We all look forward to continuing working with him in his new capacity as Chief Strategy Officer.”
It will be the first time Newey has ever worn the Team Principal title in Formula 1 — a notable moment for one of the sport’s most decorated technical figures.
Cowell, meanwhile, expressed confidence that the foundations laid over the past season set the project up for long-term success:
“Having implemented much needed structural changes as we transition to a full works team and set the foundations for Adrian and the wider organisation, it is an appropriate time for me to take a different role as Chief Strategy Officer. In this role, I will help to optimise the technical partnership between the Team, Honda, Aramco and Valvoline and to ensure the seamless integration of the Team’s new PU, fuel and chassis.”
On track, 2025 has been far from smooth sailing — Aston Martin sits eighth in the Constructors’ standings, three spots down on last year with just two rounds remaining. But internally, Newey has been flat-out on the 2026-spec challenger since walking through the door in March, aiming to make the most of the sweeping power unit and chassis regulation overhaul arriving in the new season.
Aston Martin is banking on this new leadership power-pairing to push them up the order. If Newey can craft magic once again, this might just be the beginning of a very green renaissance
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