Adrian Newey to become Aston Martin Team Principal from 2026 as Andy Cowell takes on new role

Design veteran Adrian Newey will become Aston Martin’s team principal early next year, as part of an expansion of his role as managing technical partner.

After spending the best part of two decades with Red Bull, Newey joined Aston Martin earlier this year on March 1.

As part of his revised role, Newey will guide the technical team, including trackside operations of the car.

Andy Cowell, who has spent the past year as team principal and CEO and implementing structural changes to help transform the team into a full-fledged work team, will become chief strategy officer next year.

His focus will be on optimizing the technical partnership between the team, works engine supplier Honda, fuel supplier Aramco and lubricants partner Valvoline.

Aston Martin says the change to the leadership structure is designed to focus on Newey and Cowell’s “individual strengths and expertise, ensuring organizational efficiency”.

Cowell will report to executive chairman Lawrence Stroll, who “will continue to lead the team’s business functions”.

Newey said: “Over the past nine months, I have seen great individual talent within our team.

“I look forward to taking on this additional role as we put ourselves in the best possible position to compete in 2026, where we will face a completely new situation with Aston Martin, now a works team combined with the considerable challenge posed by the new regulations.

“Andy’s new role, focusing on the integration of the new PU with our three key partners, will be critical in this journey.”

Stroll said: “Andy Cowell has been a great leader this year. He has focused on building a world-class team and making them work well together, as well as fostering a culture that puts the race car at the center of what we do.

“This leadership change is a mutual decision that we have reached in the best interest of the team. We all look forward to continuing to work with him in his new capacity as Chief Strategy Officer.”

Cowell said: “As we transition to a full working team and lay the foundation for Adrian and the wider organisation, after implementing much-needed structural changes, it is an opportune time for me to take on a different role as Chief Strategy Officer.

“In this role, I will help optimize the technical partnership between the team, Honda, Aramco and Valvoline and ensure seamless integration of the team’s new PU, fuel and chassis.”

It has been a tough season for Aston Martin and they currently sit eighth in the Teams Championship, three places lower than last year, with only two race weekends remaining.

Newey has been working on next year’s design since joining in March, which will be built according to new chassis and power unit regulations – with the team hoping to usher in a new era and increase orders.