Ahead of the F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team Principal Andy Cowell shared insights on the team’s development challenges, wind tunnel progress and their partnerships.
The team’s relationship with title sponsor Aramco continues to deepen, with Cowell highlighting their technological collaboration ahead of the 2026 power unit regulations.
“Aramco is a key partner for us, and especially for next year. They’re developing advanced sustainable fuel for the 2026 power unit, so there’s exceptionally close collaboration on fuel and lubricant development with Valvoline. So it’s exciting to be here, and it’s a great company to work with on the technological side of it as well,” Cowell explained.
Cowell addresses Aston Martin’s current performance challenges in Saudi Arabia
After recent difficult races, Cowell addressed Aston Martin’s struggles and their path forward, ahead of the Saudi Arabian GP. “I guess the car we’re racing at the moment was created away from our own wind tunnel,” he said.
“We are learning a lot from the measurements that we can take at the track, which is the Third World for the aerodynamicists, but we’ve got a 2025 model in our wind tunnel, the Silverstone, and the CFD data. We’re spending a lot of time looking into the correlation between the track world, wind tunnel and CFD to understand the differences that we see there.”
“And listening to the drivers and looking at the data of what the car is doing to try and piece all that together and understand what are the characteristics that we should continue to improve or start improving in order to make sure that the stopwatch stops sooner.”
When asked if the team’s current car serves as a laboratory for their new wind tunnel, Cowell agreed, saying, “Yes, I think for a group of engineers it’s important that you understand the tools that you’ve got.”
“You understand the simulations and the results from experiments that you do at the home base. And the objective with any experiment is that you mimic as best as possible the track environment.”
“And that’s what we’re trying to do. It’s trying to come up with methods and tools that enable us to create a racing car that when you put it on the track, it behaves exactly as you’d like it to.”
2026 Power Unit regulations
On discussions surrounding future power unit regulations, Cowell expressed satisfaction with the current plan.
“I think it’s pleasing to see that 2026 is going to happen as planned and there isn’t wasted effort and wasted money because change has a risk. Let’s make it to save some money, but actually change costs money. It’s great to see that we carry on with an efficient engine with a good degree of propulsion from electrical energy from the battery.”
“I think that’s great and there are cost-saving measures in the 2026 regulations. All the power unit manufacturers are operating now within a cost cap. Formula 1 has never developed a power unit previously with a cost cap.”
“We’ve already got a good step. I think with everything we do it’s good to either keep the lid on costs or try and pull it down. I’m sure that when everybody gets round to talking about the new regulations which will be in 2031 or sooner, there will be efforts to make sure that the cost caps are a bit tighter and the supply prices are a little bit less.”
Cowell provided a brief update on their power unit partnership with Honda. “The collaboration with HRC is really good,” he said. “After the race at Suzuka I went to Tokyo, went up to Sakura. Lawrence came and saw the progress at Sakura. It’s good. It’s a great collaboration. There’s lots to do but there are many months to do it in. It’s a great working relationship.”
“However, I think it’s important that we do continue to use sustainable fuels in an efficient engine. There’s a healthy level of hybridisation in the power units as well.”
Cowell looks to the future of Aston Martin beyond the Saudi Arabian GP
When asked if Aston Martin could reach the top four teams next season, Cowell remained optimistic but measured.
“The partnership with Martin and Aramco is a great organisation, great companies to work with. We’re doing a wide range of activations with both companies. As I mentioned earlier on, the technology development with Aramco and Valvoline has been really good, really exciting work.
“Are we going to be in the top four next year? We’re working hard to develop the quickest race car that we can imagine. We’re pushing the boundaries, both at Silverstone and Sakura with Honda and in Saudi Arabia with Aramco. It’s an exciting time.”
