Aston Martin team principal Andy Cowell has given the first insights into how Adrian Newey is integrating at the factory. After a significant period of gardening leave, Newey began work at Aston Martin at the beginning of March.
The British engineer is regarded as one of the greatest minds in F1 history – most recently pioneering Red Bull’s winning concept to begin the 2022 regulations.
Aston Martin are optimistic that Newey, along with Honda and their new infrastructure coming online, can put the team at the front.
So far, Newey’s focus since arriving at the Silverstone-based operation has been the 2026 regulations.
Why this year is actually important for Aston Martin
Inevitably, results in Formula 1 can quickly change the narrative surrounding a driver or team.
Although the phrase ‘you’re only as good as your last result’ is perhaps an extreme perspective, even teams with grand aspirations need to be competitive in the short-term.
Aston Martin are no exception, which is why having a respectable 2025 campaign is still important.
Whilst the 2026 regulations are their best chance to become front-runners, they still have sponsors, drivers and fans counting on a decent season.
Alongside the immediate needs of the AMR25, Aston will be busy behind the scenes as they restructure internally.
Ensuring that Adrian Newey can work effectively within the team, calibrating their new wind tunnel and ensuring they can optimise their Honda partnership for 2026 (not to mention Aramco’s role as fuel supplier) are all high on the priority list.
Progressing in these areas will happen in parallel to any short-term upgrades brought to the AM25.
Adrian Newey getting up to speed
To some degree, Aston Martin’s objective for 2025 will be to limit the damage before the regulation changes.
However, in terms of their development focus, the Silverstone outfit will undoubtedly prioritise 2026.
This is a relatively straightforward choice, especially compared to the likes of McLaren and Ferrari – whose resources will likely be divided.
In this context, Andy Cowell’s comments about Adrian Newey come as little surprise.
Aside from the obvious morale boost his presence provides, the 66-year-old is busy doing concept work for the 2026 regulations:
“There’s already a few areas [where], I’m smiling to myself,” Cowell told the media in Australia.
“I won’t give you the detail, because I don’t want our opponents to know.
“But you know, there’s a couple of areas where already he’s saying – ‘Can we just push that in this direction? Can we just do that?’
“And engineers, you know, mechanical engineers, composite engineers, are looking at it and going – ‘yeah, OK. We’ll have a go’.
“And I think that’s the Adrian effect.
“He picks up on the areas where you should push them and everybody’s just embracing it.
“So far, [Adrian Newey’s] focus has been entirely on the 26 car, busy drawing layouts on the 26 car.”
The very nature of a new set of regulations means that making predictions is very difficult.
With new aerodynamic rules, engines and fuel, there are several variables where teams must excel if they want to fight for Championships.
In this respect, Aston Martin are working to ensure no tone is left unturned.
