Adrian Newey has committed his long-term future to the Aston Martin Formula One Team. The British designer, widely regarded as the most successful technical mind in Formula 1 history, will join the team on 1 March 2025 as Managing Technical Partner. Along with this role, Newey will also become a shareholder, cementing his integral position in the team’s future.
This appointment is a major milestone for Aston Martin, signalling their ambition to challenge for world titles in the coming years. Adrian Newey, with 25 Formula 1 World Championships under his belt, is expected to lead the team’s development of their 2026 race car, a critical year due to upcoming regulation changes.
In a press conference earlier today, Aston Martin Chairman Lawrence Stroll reflected on the significance of Newey’s arrival saying, “Certainly the most exciting news in our Aston Martin’s Formula One history and I think probably the most exciting news in Formula One in general. So, as slightly rumoured, Adrian Newey will be joining us as first and foremost a shareholder and our technical managing partner of our Formula One team.
“Adrian arguably is the greatest in the world at what he does. There’s nobody who’s come close to winning as many world championships. He’s a gentleman, he’s a winner, he’s a competitor, and he has the passion and desire to win as do I and most of the people in this building.”
“We started on a journey six years ago with this team on similar premises and a much similar ground, much smaller premises, much smaller building, and that’s really when the journey had started. We’ve brought in some great managers, some great people along the way. We have Mike Krack, our team principal.”
“We have Tom, we have Dan, we have Eric, we have Luca, with Martin joining. Andy Cowell’s coming, we’ve put together a fantastic management team and building this premises was really showing our real intent versus hiring the people but to make this level of investment, to build a premises like this non-existent in Formula One, the first of its sort.
“It’s so grand, but it’s so special. We could build 100% of the car here. We’re going to have the first, greatest, newest wind tunnel built in over 20 years. It’s a huge tool to make the car go faster ultimately.”
Bringing Newey to the team was not an overnight decision. Stroll shared the backstory of his discussions with Newey.
“I had been speaking to, trying to speak to Adrian for a couple of years and I believe when things are meant to be, they happen. I’ll let Adrian speak for himself. I believe he shared my passion, intent, and vision and there really is no other Formula One team that is poised for the future as we are. So, I can’t be more excited to have Adrian on board.”
The long-standing speculation surrounding Newey’s move was addressed by Stroll, who explained when talks became serious. He said, “We really did begin to speak briefly about three years back. The most recent talks in earnest began after I read Adrian’s news of his departure.
“So, once I read that, I said, well, again, I believe this is meant to be. I believe Adrian will share my vision. He’s a super smart guy. And so it was really when I read the April departure announcement.”
Stroll was asked on whether Newey was the final, most important piece of the puzzle for Aston Martin. In response, Stroll was quick to acknowledge Newey’s pivotal role.
“There’s been many pieces as a puzzle from, as I say, when we started six years ago, to hiring the great management team we have today, to bringing in two of the greatest partners in the industry,” he explained.
“You know, we’ve brought Aramco to be our partner, and they really are a partner. There’s no better partnership in the world than we have with Aramco. And to be able to bring Honda exclusively to work for us for the next five years after the new regulation starts.
“Our partners are also tremendously important. Adrian is key, key, key, and the biggest part of the puzzle, certainly from a technical point of view, from a leadership, a technical leadership point of view. Know that he will be leading the team. And I think that will have a trickle-down effect throughout the whole organisation.”
On the question of Newey’s compensation, Stroll confidently dismissed any doubts about the value of the hire.
“I can tell you Adrian is a bargain. So certainly, I’ve been in business for, oh my Lord, show my age, over 40 years now. And I’ve never been more certain. It’s the best. It’s not an investment. He’s a shareholder and a partner. So it’s the best partner I can bring into a company. We intend to be around here a very long time together. So it’s relatively inexpensive for everything Adrian brings in a partnership we will have.”
Stroll also shared the scene when the team was informed, explaining this was the biggest buzz felt by the employees since taking ownership, “I think about 800 or so in the street, was an explosion of applause. I’ve never seen, since I’m here, such a level of excitement of any announcement.
“We’ve obviously never made an announcement to this magnitude. We just weren’t fortunate enough to. But I saw everyone leave with a very big smile on their face and a kind of hop and skip in their walk. So hopefully, they go back to the desk and figure out how to draw something a little quicker.”
Looking ahead, Stroll reflected on the team’s priorities for the coming years. He acknowledged the challenges the team faced in 2023 but underscored the long-term focus on 2026, when new regulations will take effect.
“We had a slight distraction moving into this building. We had a very strong start to 2023. As you know, the first nine races were great. Then these cars are, ground effect cars are rather complex, and obviously, we went in a different, or clearly appears now, a wrong direction.
“We’re trying to find our way back. We’re currently fifth in the championship. In all honesty, for a team like us, with just moving into this building, with not having all our tools in place, without having a true big technical leader as Adrian, I would like to be in a better space, don’t get me wrong. But our focus really lies on doing a better car for 25.
“But really, most importantly, we’ll be focussing most of our energy next year on 26. Reset, new rules, new power unit, buildings up and running, wind tunnels running. So that’s really going to be our focus.”
