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Adrian Newey explains how – and why – he’s Aston Martin’s new team boss in 2026
Adrian Newey recently assumed the role of Aston Martin team principal, emphasizing that it will not detract from his focus on F1 design work. This change occurred after Aston Martin announced Newey would replace Andy Cowell for the 2026 season. Newey, renowned as F1’s premier car designer, will play a pivotal role in Aston Martin’s 2026 endeavors. Owner Lawrence Stroll’s pursuit of F1 championship success has spurred significant recruitment and investment by Aston Martin. Cowell, the brain behind Mercedes’ V6 hybrid engine, will transition to overseeing Aston Martin’s collaboration with Honda. With the upcoming rule alterations, Cowell’s primary task will involve coordinating Aston Martin, Honda, and Aramco. Newey addressed concerns about the impact of his new role on his design work, assuring that his passion lies in creating high-performance F1 cars. He affirmed his commitment to preserving his design focus while fulfilling his duties as team principal. Aston Martin demonstrated promise in Qatar sprint qualifying, with Fernando Alonso attaining fourth place on the sprint race grid.
