Adrian Newey named Aston Martin team principal in major leadership shake-up

Aston Martin has announced that Formula 1 design legend Adrian Newey will take over as team principal next year, marking a major restructuring of the Silverstone-based outfit, Sport360NG reports.

The move sees Andy Cowell step down from his dual role as team principal and CEO, just 13 months after joining the team, and assume the position of chief strategy officer. Cowell will focus on the team’s engine partnership with Honda and collaborations with fuel suppliers.

Newey, who joined Aston Martin in March as managing technical partner on a five-year deal reportedly worth up to £30 million per year including bonuses, will now oversee the technical team and trackside operations. Aston Martin described the restructuring as a move to “focus on their individual strengths and expertise, ensuring organisational efficiency.”

Insiders told BBC Sport that disagreements between Newey and Cowell over team management and the design of the 2026 car prompted the change. Newey’s extensive experience, 12 drivers’ and 13 constructors’ championships with Williams, McLaren, and Red Bull, made him the natural choice to lead the team. He will become Aston Martin’s fourth team principal in as many years, following Otmar Szafnauer, Mike Krack, and Cowell.

Team owner Lawrence Stroll praised Cowell’s contributions, saying, “Andy Cowell has been a great leader this year. He’s focused on building a world-class team and fostering a culture that puts the race car at the heart of what we do. This leadership change is a mutual decision in the interest of the team, and we look forward to working with him in his new capacity.”

Stroll added that Newey’s appointment would allow the team to fully leverage his “creative and technical expertise.” Newey, meanwhile, expressed enthusiasm for his expanded responsibilities: “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 prepare for 2026, facing new regulations and the challenge of Aston Martin becoming a full works team.”

Cowell reflected on his new role, stating that “having set the foundations for the team, it is an appropriate time for me to take a different role.” Sources also confirmed that former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner, despite being shown the Aston Martin factory by Newey, will not be joining the team.

Aston Martin’s leadership change signals a renewed focus on technical excellence as the team looks to strengthen its position ahead of the regulatory shake-up in 2026.