Aston Martin has announced that Adrian Newey will become team principal from the 2026 Formula 1 season, taking full control of the organisation as it prepares for its first year as a Honda works team. The announcement was made on November 26, just ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix weekend.
Newey, revered as one of the greatest designers in F1 history, joined Aston Martin earlier this year as Managing Technical Partner. His elevation to team principal marks a significant shift in the team’s structure, with the 2026 era set to begin under his leadership.
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A leadership shift driven by “differences in direction”
Sources inside the paddock suggest the reorganisation stems from a growing strategic divide between Newey and current team principal and CEO Andy Cowell.
Since joining the team in March, Newey has been direct in his assessment of Aston Martin’s technical limitations. At the Monaco Grand Prix, he openly described the team’s simulation environment as “substandard.” He subsequently brought in expert Giles D. Wood and initiated a wide-ranging review of internal processes.
The shake-up led to the departure of seven senior staff members, including aerodynamics director Eric Blandin. With the team preparing for the Honda power unit partnership, Aston Martin is understood to have prioritised a unified direction at leadership level. That requirement appears to have accelerated the decision to appoint Newey as team principal.
Cowell transitions to Chief Strategy Officer
Andy Cowell will step aside as team principal after 14 months but will remain in a key role as Chief Strategy Officer, where he will oversee coordination with Honda, Aramco and Valvoline ahead of the 2026 regulations.
Given Cowell’s background as the former head of Mercedes’ power unit division, the new role positions him as the primary architect of the technical and operational integration with Honda.
Cowell said the restructuring was the correct step for the next phase of the project.
“Having made the necessary organizational changes towards a full works team and built the foundations with Adrian, it is now the right decision for me to take on the additional role of CSO. I will be working to optimise the technical partnership between the team, Honda, Aramco and Valvoline, and to ensure the smooth integration of the new PU, fuel and chassis.”
Newey said he was ready for the expanded responsibility.
“I am looking forward to taking on the role of team principal. Andy’s new role, which will focus on integrating the new PU with our three key partners, will be crucial in this journey.”
Stroll places full faith in Newey’s leadership
Before the decision was finalised, several high-profile names were linked with the job, including former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner and former McLaren CEO Andreas Seidl. In the end, Aston Martin opted to place full trust in Newey’s leadership both technically and organisationally.
Team owner Lawrence Stroll praised Cowell’s contribution while expressing confidence in Newey’s ability to lead the Honda works era.
Stroll described the move as a mutually agreed restructuring aimed at strengthening the team. He added that appointing Newey as team principal would allow him to “make the most of his creative and technical expertise.”
With Honda returning as a full works partner in 2026, Aston Martin will enter a transformative phase. Under Newey, the team’s identity, structure, and long-term direction appear set for a significant reset.
In 2026, Aston Martin Honda will effectively become Adrian Newey’s team.
