Aston Martin has insisted the team’s initial struggles in 2025 will not prompt it to divert Adrian Newey’s focus from work on Formula 1‘s upcoming regulation change.
Newey began his new role as Aston Martin’s Managing Technical Partner last month with the expectation that his whole attention would be on the revised 2026 rules.
However, Aston Martin’s tough start with an uncompetitive AMR25 car has incited questions about whether his involvement could be revised to help in the short term.
But Aston Martin boss Andy Cowell has denied that is being assumed as a viable option, with the Silverstone-based squad keen to not compromise next season’s car.
“100 per cent of Adrian’s designing time is focused on 2026,” Cowell outlined in Saudi Arabia.
“He joined in March, so there was a period of him getting up to speed with the regulations, up to speed with the concept work that we’ve been doing in the preceding couple of months, and there are some tough deadlines to meet for releasing monocoque details and transmission details.
“So getting a car ready requires slightly earlier decision points, and clearly everything’s new, there’s zero carryover.
“There’s lots of work there and Adrian’s just been focused on that.”
Alonso backs Aston Martin’s Newey decision
Fernando Alonso, who hopes Newey’s addition can propel him to an elusive third title, has backed the call to utilise the design guru’s expertise on the new regulations.
“I think ultimately it’s his decision,” the Spaniard said. “He has enough experience, knowledge and background to know what is best.
“And I think he’s working only on 2026, so if he’s deciding that, I totally support that.”
How Newey can help Aston Martin in 2025
But while Newey will not have a direct involvement in the AMR25’s development, Cowell suggested that the ex-Red Bull designer’s inputs will be beneficial to the team.
“[His thoughts] are focused largely on the tools that we’re using rather than any direct performance aspects of the 25 car,” he explained.
“But there is value in Adrian understanding the tools that we’ve got, the fidelity of those tools, and the precision with which they predict what’s going to happen on the racetrack.”
Cowell also highlighted that Newey has been quick to commend the facilities at Aston Martin’s renovated Silverstone headquarters, which comprise a new wind tunnel.
“Adrian’s been hugely complimentary about the campus and has been positive about the tunnel that we’ve got and the way that everything’s been set up,” Cowell said.
“He is, of course, pushing for us to improve the way we operate in the tunnel.
“He’s got thoughts on how to improve pretty much everything, and that’s the great thing about Adrian’s competitive drive.”
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