A significant leadership change is set to take place at the Aston Martin Formula 1 team ahead of the 2026 season. Adrian Newey, the renowned engineering figure, will assume the role of team principal.
Newey, who joined the Silverstone-based squad last year, will take charge of all trackside operations. He steps into the position currently held by Andy Cowell, who will transition to a newly created role as chief strategy officer.
The move comes as the team prepares for a pivotal period in the sport. The 2026 season will introduce a major overhaul of technical regulations, coinciding with Aston Martin’s new status as a full factory team with its own power unit.
In a statement, Newey expressed confidence in the team’s potential. “Having spent time with the organisation, I’ve been impressed by the depth of talent we have,” he said. “This new position allows me to help guide that talent as we face the dual challenge of new rules and our expanded role as a manufacturer. Andy’s focus on integrating our new power unit will be a critical part of this mission.”
Newey’s career is decorated with numerous championship successes as a designer, but this marks his first appointment as a team principal. His move to Aston Martin last year was a major coup for the team’s ownership.
The team currently sits eighth in the constructors’ championship with two races remaining in the season. Team owner Lawrence Stroll framed the restructuring as a strategic move to optimise the organisation’s strengths ahead of the regulatory reset.
“Andy has done an excellent job building the foundations of this team and reinstalling a racing culture,” Stroll commented. “Placing Adrian in this leadership role unleashes his unique vision directly onto our operational efforts. Together, these changes position us perfectly to harness our combined capabilities for the future.”