Adrian Newey, widely regarded as the greatest designer in Formula 1 history, has joined Aston Martin as Managing Technical Partner, with the aim of leading the team to the World Championship.
The announcement was made at the team’s Formula 1 base at Silverstone, where Newey also became a shareholder in the team.
The 65-year-old’s new contract is reportedly a five-year deal worth up to £30m a year, including bonuses and add-ons, making him one of the highest-paid players in the sport, behind top drivers such as Max Verstappen, Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris. According to Forbes, Newey will rank just below Anthony Joshua, Rory McIlroy and Tyson Fury among British sports personalities.
Newey has expressed his admiration for Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll, saying he is “inspired and deeply impressed by the passion and commitment” the Canadian billionaire has shown. Stroll has invested heavily in the team, building a new state-of-the-art factory and wind tunnel at Silverstone and securing a factory engine partnership with Honda from 2026. The partnership marks Honda’s return to Aston Martin after supplying engines to reigning world champions Red Bull since 2019.
Newey’s move to Aston Martin is in line with the team’s ambitious goals, which include having two-time world champion Fernando Alonso under contract until the end of 2026, alongside Stroll’s son Lance as another driver. “Lawrence is determined to create a world-beating team,” said Newey. “They have all the building blocks of the infrastructure needed to make Aston Martin a world championship-winning team, and I’m very much looking forward to helping achieve that goal.”
Stroll expressed his pride in having Newey’s expertise, saying: “Adrian is the best in the world at what he does – he is at the top of his game. It is the biggest story since the Aston Martin name returned to the sport and further evidence of our ambition to build a Formula 1 team capable of fighting for world championships.”
Newey, who had previously considered offers from Ferrari, McLaren, Williams and Alpine, was drawn to Aston Martin by the shared vision and commitment Stroll showed. “Adrian is a racer and one of the most competitive people I have ever met,” Stroll said. “He quickly understood what we were trying to achieve. We mean business – and so does he.”
Newey will start his role in early March next year, joining a team of engineers that includes several high-profile recruits. Dan Fallows, who worked under Newey at Red Bull from 2006 to 2021, is Aston Martin’s technical director. Former Mercedes engine boss Andy Cowell, credited with developing the dominant power unit of the hybrid era of Formula 1, will take over as CEO from October 1. In addition, former Ferrari chassis technical director Enrico Cardile will join as technical director in 2025.
With these strategic appointments, Aston Martin is well-positioned to challenge the established leaders in Formula 1, leveraging Newey’s unique design expertise and the robust infrastructure at its new base at Silverstone. The team’s bid for world championship glory has taken a major step forward with Newey’s arrival, marking a new chapter in their ambitious journey to the pinnacle of the sport.