Adrian Newey to lead Aston Martin as team Principal

Aston Martin has confirmed that Adrian Newey, widely regarded as Formula 1’s most successful designer, will take over as team principal from the 2026 season, replacing Andy Cowell.

The move marks the first time in his long and celebrated career that Newey will hold the top leadership role at a team.

Newey, who joined Aston Martin on March 1, 2025 as Managing Technical Partner, will continue in this technical role while assuming overall responsibility for the team’s operations. Newey formerly was lead designer at Red Bull before joining Aston Martin. 

Aston Martin hopes his technical expertise, combined with leadership as team principal, will accelerate the team’s growth and improve its competitiveness as the sport enters a new era of regulations and power unit changes.

Cowell, who has led the team throughout 2025, will transition into a newly created role as Chief Strategy Officer. In this position, he will focus on strategic partnerships, oversee the integration of Aston Martin’s future power units, and coordinate with key partners, including Honda, fuel sponsor Aramco, and lubricant supplier Valvoline.

The reorganisation appears designed to divide responsibilities clearly, allowing Newey to concentrate on design and technical leadership while Cowell manages broader strategic and operational duties.

Aston Martin is preparing for a full works team setup in 2026, with Honda supplying engines for the first time. The team is aiming to break out of the midfield and challenge the top teams, and Newey’s appointment is seen as a crucial part of that plan.

Two big parts of any top level team are still missing from Aston Martin though - two drivers capable of competing at the top. While they have one of the most experienced drivers under their belt, Fernando Alonso is well past his prime and the chances of him winning a World Title again are slim. Not impossible. 

Over his career, Newey has been instrumental in multiple Constructors’ and Drivers’ championships with Red Bull and McLaren, making him one of the most decorated designers in F1 history.

While the announcement has generated excitement, it also brings challenges. Leading a team as principal requires managing not just the technical side, but also race operations, media, and the internal dynamics of a Formula 1 team.

Success will depend on seamless collaboration between Newey’s technical vision and Cowell’s strategic oversight.

With this bold restructuring, Aston Martin is signalling its intent to compete at the front and make the most of the new technical and power unit regulations coming in 2026.

Fans and rivals alike will be watching closely to see if Newey’s legendary design skills can translate into leadership success at the highest level of the sport.