Aston Martin names Newey as 2026 team principal following Horner rumours

Aston Martin has named Adrian Newey as its new team principal for 2026 following rumours it was poised to sign former Red Bull CEO Christian Horner.

The team announced on Wednesday that Andy Cowell will step down from the team principal role he took over in January.

Newey, who joined Aston Martin from Red Bull earlier this year, has never previously held the position of team principal.

“Over the last nine months, I have seen great individual talent within our team,” he said. “I’m looking forward to taking on this additional role as we put ourselves in the best possible position to compete in 2026, where we will face an entirely new position with Aston Martin now a works team combined with the considerable challenge faced by the new regulations.

“Andy’s new role, focusing on the integration of the new [power unit] with our three key partners, will be pivotal in this journey.”

Cowell, who masterminded Mercedes’ enormously successful power unit programme when the current V6 hybrid turbos were introduced, is to take on a new role as chief strategy officer.

Aston Martin will become Honda’s works engine team next year. Cowell’s responsibilities will be focused on developing the relationships between the team and power unit manufacturers as well as fuel and lubricants suppliers Aramco and Valvoline.

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Cowell said his priority will be “to ensure the seamless integration of the team’s new PU, fuel and chassis.”

“Having implemented much needed structural changes as we transition to a full works team and set the foundations for Adrian and the wider organisation, it is an appropriate time for me to take a different role as chief strategy officer,” he added.

Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll said Cowell “has been a great leader this year” and the change is “a mutual decision we have reached in the interest of the team.”

“I’m also pleased that Adrian Newey will step into the team principal role, which will enable him to make full use of his creative and technical expertise,” Stroll added. “Both these changes will ensure the Team is best placed to play to their collective strengths.”

Newey will be Aston Martin’s fourth team principal since the brand entered F1 in 2021. Otmar Szafnauer held the position that year before Mike Krack took over in 2022. Krack has also remained with the team as its chief trackside officer.

Aston Martin won the race to sign star designer Newey after he announced his departure from Red Bull last year. He spent almost two decades at the team, producing a series of championship-winning cars, as he previously did for McLaren and Williams.

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