P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll has appeared to firmly shut the door on any tie-up with Christian Horner, but intrigue continues on how the squad will be run next year
Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll seems to have definitively ruled out any future collaboration with Christian Horner. The team’s leadership structure for next year remains a topic of interest and speculation.
Stroll and Horner were reportedly in discussions for months about possibly including Horner in a high-ranking role with possible equity in the team. However, Aston Martin surprised many by appointing Adrian Newey as team principal for the upcoming season.
Sources suggest that Horner’s negotiations did not involve the team principal position and were separate from Newey’s appointment. Stroll has dismissed the idea of a partnership with Horner, stating it is “absolutely not happening.”
It is uncertain whether Stroll’s public denial to staff about entertaining the idea of hiring Horner indicates a complete end to any potential partnership. Newey has downplayed the impact of his new role on his workload, indicating he will not take on many additional responsibilities beyond car design.
Amidst this uncertainty, the question remains as to who will take on wider team principal duties such as HR, media engagements, and F1 Commission meetings at Aston Martin next year. Newey aims to delegate non-core tasks to focus on his design expertise.
Speculation lingers about possible new CEO appointments to relieve Newey of non-design responsibilities, though Stroll’s current stance suggests a different direction for the team. Discussions with Horner and other candidates continue, with Aston Martin being only one of Horner’s potential options.
