Adrian Newey New Team Principal of Aston Martin in 2026

Adrian Newey will take over as Aston Martin’s team principal starting from the 2026 Formula 1 season, while Andy Cowell transitions into a newly created role within the organization.

Newey will hold the position alongside his job as managing technical partner, a role he has served in since joining Aston Martin in March 2024 after an 18-year tenure at Red Bull. Remarkably, this will be the first time the 66-year-old widely regarded as F1’s most successful and influential car designer has taken on the role of team principal since entering Formula 1 in the 1980s.

Cowell, who assumed the team boss duties from Mike Krack earlier this year, will now move into the role of chief strategy officer ahead of Aston Martin’s upcoming works-engine partnership with Honda. The former Mercedes engine chief initially joined Aston Martin in 2024 as CEO before expanding his responsibilities to run the team’s day-to-day operations.

In its announcement, Aston Martin said Newey and Cowell had “agreed to divide their responsibilities in order to focus on their individual strengths and expertise, ensuring organisational efficiency.”

Newey expressed excitement about his expanded role, stating: “Over the last nine months, I have seen great individual talent within our team. I’m looking forward to taking on this additional role as we put ourselves in the best possible position to compete in 2026, where we will face an entirely new position with Aston Martin now a works team combined with the considerable challenge faced by the new regulations.”

He added that Cowell’s new responsibilities would be vital to the team’s progress: “Andy’s new role, focusing on the integration of the new PU with our three key partners, will be pivotal in this journey.”

Cowell also commented on the transition, saying: “Having implemented much-needed structural changes as we transition to a full works team and set the foundations for Adrian and the wider organisation, it is an appropriate time for me to take a different role as chief strategy officer.”

He explained the importance of his upcoming duties, adding: “In this role, I will help to optimise the technical partnership between the Team, Honda, Aramco and Valvoline and to ensure the seamless integration of the Team’s new PU, fuel and chassis.”

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