Adrian Newey to be new Aston Martin team principal from 2026

Aston Martin says it will ‘play to its collective strengths’ next year as the team announces changes to leadership structure ahead of the 2026 Formula 1 season.

The most notable change sees Adrian Newey - who joined Aston Martin this year on a five-year deal worth up to £30m a year - become team principal, having previously been in the role of technical officer. Andy Cowell takes on a new role as Chief Strategy Officer, after leading the team as CEO and team principal for the last 14 months, and will report to Executive Chairman Lawrence Stroll.

The appointments help Newey and Cowell divide their responsibilities and play to their individual strengths as Aston Martin looks to make significant improvements after a disappointing 2025 season.

Next year will see the biggest changes to regulations in decades, while an extra team will join the grid. Aston Martin currently lies in 8th position in the constructors’ standings, while Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll are 13th and 16th, respectively, in the driver’s table after 22 races.

Newey previously spent nearly 20 years as Red Bull Racing’s chief technology officer, while previous stints in Formula 1 have seen him heavily involved in the design side. Throughout his F1 career, the Brit has been a part of 12 drivers' and 13 constructors' championships. The 66 year old said he was looking forward to the new role, stating the changes would help put Aston Martin in “the best possible position to compete in 2026”.

So, where does this leave Christian Horner?

After leaving Red Bull during this season, Horner had reportedly been eyeing the team principal role at Aston Martin before today’s announcement and is free to work for another team from next summer. Horner was even rumoured to have been given a tour of the Aston Martin factory by former colleague Newey earlier this week, although any role for him now is unlikely.

words: Mike Booth
pictures: Aston Martin F1