F1 | Aston Martin: Newey is building the dream but he needs time
The Aston Martin Formula 1 project for 2026, shaped by the genius of Adrian Newey, is expected to be very strong, but the Silverstone-based team is still in the middle of a full restructuring phase. The factory is the most modern in the paddock, packed with cutting-edge solutions, but Adrian Newey is still putting together some key pieces of his ideal technical staff. The turnover of personnel, not only at senior management level, has been particularly impressive.
With the regulatory revolution set to introduce Formula 1 to a new technical cycle in 2026, there is huge anticipation about whether the hierarchy of Grands Prix will change. The ground-effect era has been marked by Red Bull dominance and an extraordinary resurgence from McLaren, while Ferrari and Mercedes have played a more marginal role than in the past.
The key question among insiders is whether Adrian Newey, after leaving Red Bull, will be able to start another winning cycle like those he previously enjoyed at Williams, McLaren and, of course, in Milton Keynes. The answer is far from obvious, at least in this first year of major transformation.
Team owner Lawrence Stroll acquired Racing Point in 2019. At the time, it was a midfield team based in Silverstone that has gradually evolved into Aston Martin Racing. The official green colours of the Gaydon-based manufacturer appeared in 2021, following an excellent fourth place in the Constructors’ Championship with the RP20 powered by Mercedes, highlighted by Sergio Perez’s victory in Japan and third-place finishes for Lance Stroll.
After that season, the team hovered between fifth and seventh place in the Constructors’ standings, delivering fewer satisfactions than initially expected. In the meantime, Lawrence Stroll transformed the former Racing Point headquarters into a brand-new, ultra-modern facility. The Technology Campus now consists of three interconnected buildings that, since 2023, have completely reshaped the area overlooking the Silverstone circuit. The team owner spared no expense, equipping Aston Martin with the most advanced wind tunnel, a new simulator and infrastructure designed to compete directly with the top teams.
It would seem logical to expect that, with such a state-of-the-art base and innovative solutions, the team should immediately rise to the front of the grid. In reality, fine-tuning these systems requires far more time than one might think, especially considering that key partnerships have also changed in parallel. Until now, Aston Martin has operated as a Mercedes customer team, purchasing the power unit, gearbox and rear suspension from the German manufacturer.
From 2026, the green cars will be powered by Honda power units thanks to an exclusive agreement linking Lawrence Stroll to the Japanese manufacturer. This partnership strengthens the team’s ambition to aim high, but Honda, traditionally very cautious in sharing information about its work, has been somewhat reserved in guaranteeing open cooperation. As a result, Andy Cowell, who until a few weeks ago was CEO and team principal, paid the price for this gap and, as an experienced engine specialist, was reassigned to the role of liaison with Honda.
There is also great anticipation surrounding the fuel that will be developed by Aramco, the Saudi oil company that is also part of Lawrence Stroll senior’s corporate structure. Aramco has made a major investment in the study of e-fuels, synthetic fuels with no fossil content. Expectations are high that the Saudi supplier can provide Honda with a fuel featuring high calorific value, potentially delivering a small but crucial power advantage.
Lawrence Stroll was particularly shrewd in securing Adrian Newey. The Canadian offered the British engineering genius a minority shareholding, effectively turning him into a partner. From that moment on, Newey assumed full control of the team. For now, he is also acting as team principal, a role that is not naturally his, but one that allows him to build the staff he believes is necessary to succeed.
The first major appointment was Enrico Cardile, the former Ferrari technical director lured away from Maranello. The Tuscan engineer now serves as Chief Technical Officer, replacing Dan Fallows and Bob Bell. He acts as Adrian Newey’s main interface in the development of the car and oversees the aerodynamic department led by Jack Vino, who recently joined from Mercedes following the departures of Eric Blandin and Ian Greig. Cardile also coordinates the simulation area managed by Giles Wood, a specialist who arrived eight months ago from Apple.
It is also interesting to note the presence of another Italian at the heart of Aston Martin’s structure. Luca Furbatto, with the team since 2021, is the Engineering Director and oversees the production phase and system development. For the highly sensitive production area, Adrian Newey recently appointed Paul Field as Chief Operating Officer. Field is a trusted ally who previously served as Head of Production, Supply Chain and Logistics at Red Bull. He replaces Ben Fitzgerald, a departing manager with limited Formula 1 experience, having come from the automotive sector.
It is clear that Adrian Newey is still completing the puzzle as the AMR26 is taking shape. This is a complex operation because it has involved every department in the effort to build a winning team. It should also be remembered that, compared to the championship that has just ended, Aston Martin is now required to design and produce its own transmission, rear suspension and hydraulic system, all of which were previously supplied by Mercedes.
Fitting every element together is a delicate process. When the new generation of agile cars hits the track, fans can expect a creation from Adrian Newey that will almost certainly introduce solutions others will try to copy. However, it would be unrealistic to expect Aston Martin to express its full potential immediately. This is especially true given that some key positions within the organisation remain open. It is no secret that Gianpiero Lambiase, another engineer highly regarded by Adrian Newey, could potentially join the team. Trackside operations are currently overseen by Mike Krack.
Lawrence Stroll senior is overseeing a transformation that, in some ways, recalls Ferrari’s restructuring at the beginning of the 2000s, which eventually led to the Schumacher era. Even with Ross Brawn and Rory Byrne at the helm of the technical team, success did not come instantly, despite Ferrari already having Michael Schumacher as its lead driver. The Silverstone-based team, by contrast, will need to secure a top driver for 2027 if it truly wants to establish itself as a championship contender. Fernando Alonso has not won a Grand Prix since 2013 with Ferrari, while Lance Stroll has yet to win a Formula 1 race.
It is therefore no coincidence that rumours are increasingly linking Aston Martin to Charles Leclerc, should the dream of signing Max Verstappen fail to materialise.
Leave a Reply