Aston Martin: Adrian Newey Takes Over Leadership in 2026, Cowell to Strategy

Starting in 2026, Adrian Newey will take on the role of team principal for Aston Martin, while the current director and CEO of the team, Andy Cowell, will become the director of strategy. This news arrives after intense speculation about the team’s future leadership.

Cowell and Newey have agreed to divide their responsibilities to focus on their individual strengths and expertise, ensuring organizational efficiency.

Aston Martin Statement

Newey, whose cars have won 12 constructors’ titles throughout his career, joined Aston Martin at the beginning of this season as a team shareholder. At 66 years old, he joined the team as a technical managing partner, but his shareholding meant that his role was more important than that of any other F1 technical director. Cowell, who has been with the team for 14 months, took over as team principal from Mike Krack earlier this year.

The former head of engines at Mercedes will now take on a new role in which he will work closely with the new power unit supplier, Honda, as well as Aramco and Valvoline, who will supply the team with fuel and lubricants from next year. Aston Martin’s statement indicated that the majority owner and executive chairman, Lawrence Stroll, will continue to lead the team’s business functions.

Andy Cowell has been a great leader this year. He has focused on building a first-class team and getting them to work well together, as well as fostering a culture that puts the race car back at the center of what we do.

Lawrence Stroll

This leadership change is a mutual decision we have made in the team’s interest. We all look forward to continuing to work with him in his new role as Director of Strategy.

Lawrence Stroll

I am also pleased that Adrian Newey is taking on the role of team principal, which will allow him to make the most of his creative and technical expertise. Both changes will ensure that the team is in the best position to leverage its collective strengths.

Lawrence Stroll

In the last nine months, I have seen great individual talent within our team.

Adrian Newey

I am looking forward to taking on this additional role, as we are in the best possible position to compete in 2026, where we will face a completely new position with Aston Martin now as a factory team combined with the considerable challenge posed by the new regulations.

Adrian Newey

Andy’s new role, focused on integrating the new UP with our three key partners, will be fundamental on this journey.

Adrian Newey

Aston Martin has invested heavily in a new factory and a wind tunnel in recent years with the aim of fighting for victories and championships under a new set of technical regulations in 2026.

Having applied the much-needed structural changes as we transition to a full factory team and laid the foundations for Adrian and the organization as a whole, it is the right time for me to take on a different role as Director of Strategy.

Andy CowellIn this role, I will help optimize the technical association between the team, Honda, Aramco and Valvoline and ensure the perfect integration of the new UP, fuel and the team’s chassis. After a disappointing 2025 campaign, Aston Martin currently occupies eighth place in this year’s constructors’ standings, after losing seventh place to Haas at last weekend’s Las Vegas Grand Prix.