In a significant reshuffle of top talents in Formula 1, esteemed designer Adrian Newey is slated to part ways with Red Bull and join Aston Martin in the year 2025. Newey’s exit as the chief technical officer of Red Bull became official in May, stemming from a noted discord with team principal Christian Horner. Despite his resignation, Newey has committed to see out his pioneering work on the RB17, the marquee’s first hypercar, until early 2025.
Industry insiders reported that both Ferrari and Aston Martin extended offers to Newey, who was seen making a visit to Aston Martin’s factory at Silverstone in June. Securing a deal with Aston Martin will award Newey an annual salary package of a substantial £19.8 million (approximately $26 million), with the commencement of his tenure scheduled for March 2025.
Joining the ranks of Aston Martin implies that Newey will be collaborating with the double world champion, Fernando Alonso. The seasoned designer is predicted to hold a pivotal role in blueprinting the 2026 model, which is supposed to mark the introduction of revised technical regulations.
Newey’s illustrious career boasts the design of 14 F1 cars, which all went onto secure championship victories. His impressive repertoire was built during his tenure at F1 giants such as Williams, McLaren, and, of course, Red Bull.
Aston Martin, however, has experienced a dip in their performance. The team, which demonstrated a strong presence at the forefront last year, has currently slipped to fifth in the constructors’ table after 16 races, trailing the fourth-placed Mercedes by a staggering 214 points. They were propelled into the spotlight last season by achieving eight podium finishes, an accolade hard to match in the current season with 2024’s best result being Alonso’s fifth-place finish at the second-round of the Saudi Arabian GP.
An unfortunate setback struck when both Aston Martin’s racers collected zero points in the recent Monza race. Yet, the Silverstone outfit remains optimistic about their roadmap for the future. In significant news for their operations, Honda is confirmed to provide power units to the team starting in 2026, coinciding with the rollout of the new technical regulations.
The belief in the capabilities of the Aston Martin team echoes among its racers as well. At the helm, Alonso has voiced his conviction that the team is forging the most promising blueprint for the future. Aston Martin’s investments in a state-of-the-art factory and a modern wind tunnel underline their intent to succeed and re-affirm their commitment to excel in F1.
In a key personnel addition in 2022, Aston Martin succeeded in signing Dan Fallows, a critical contributor to Sebastian Vettel’s success in securing four consecutive titles between 2010 and 2013. With Newey’s move confirmed, he will be realigning with Fallows, his former colleague at Red Bull.
Aston Martin’s operations being based in the United Kingdom also worked as a decisive factor for Newey. The designer, choosing to stay within the UK, would have likely been required to relocate to Italy had he signed with Ferrari.
Racing analyst Ted Kravitz of Sky Sports F1 assessed the attractiveness of Aston Martin as a destination for top talents such as Newey during a recent podcast. Kravitz evaluated the significant investments already made by Aston Martin as well as their formidable infrastructure as key incentives.
Kravitz highlighted the presence of Dan Fallows, a successful former collaborator of Newey’s during his time at Red Bull, as a major draw. With Fallows already onboard, the team boasts of a tested and successful partnership ready to bring their expertise to Aston Martin.
The arrival of Newey and the expected collaboration with Fallows signals a promising era for Aston Martin. Despite the recent setbacks, the upcoming changes in technical regulations and the promise of the new hypercar design are set to bring a renewed sense of competitiveness to the team.
Moreover, the long-anticipated commencement of the partnership with Honda in 2026 offers a beacon of hope for Aston Martin. As they gear up to take advantage of the new power unit, the team can look forward to stronger performances on the track.
In light of these changes, Aston Martin’s push to strengthen their technical team, starting with signing Fallows in 2022 and now set to bring in Newey, is an anticipatory move. The strategic hires could very well be the turning point to leverage the upcoming changes and regain their competitive edge.
While only time will reveal the impact of these strategic shifts, the developments certainly point towards a bustling 2025 for Aston Martin. The much-anticipated arrival of Adrian Newey is set to ring in an era of potential resurgence and advancement for the team.