Max Verstappen has backed Aston Martin to succeed with Adrian Newey as its Team Principal from next year’s Formula 1 season, saying he hopes the team will “benefit from his knowledge”.
The famed designer will step up into the role of team boss from next season, a role he has never previously held at any other team, replacing Andy Cowell, who will shift to the position of Chief Strategy Officer.
News of Newey’s appointment somewhat came as a shock, given the rumours had pointed towards his former Red Bull colleague Christian Horner, as well as former McLaren boss Andreas Seidl being the frontrunners to take the job.
But Newey’s wealth of experience has seen him being handed the task of leading from the front, as well as overseeing the trackside operations and, of course, the design of the car.
Speaking ahead of this weekend’s Qatar Grand Prix, Verstappen saw the logic in giving someone with such technical nous the position, something that is becoming more commonplace up and down the grid.
‘It’s probably something that you see in more teams, right? That someone more technical is taking on the role of team boss,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“And I guess Aston is going the same way. I mean, you have to ask them, of course, why they opted to do it.
“But that’s my, I think, logical explanation behind that. So yeah, I’m happy to see that.
‘I don’t know, of course, how much that will change in the involvement of the car for Adrian. But yeah, I’m sure he will do well.”
Verstappen ‘happy’ for Newey as ‘time will tell’ whether he will suit Team Principal role
When put to Verstappen that Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko was once quoted as suggesting Newey is a brilliant designer but not necessarily a great manager, Verstappen said that the proof will be in the pudding once he is integrated into the role next season.
“Time will tell, right? I mean, I don’t know,” he said. “I mean, I’ve never spoken to Adrian about it. It was never an option at Red Bull, of course, as well. So I don’t know what the ambition was or whatever, but I’m happy for him.
“You know, like he’s in a different team environment now. And of course, I cannot look into the team as well, why or how or the reason why he got promoted.
“I don’t know. But I’m just sitting here and enjoying it. Happy for him. And I hope that the team will benefit from his knowledge at the end of the day.”
READ MORE – Fernando Alonso reacts to Aston Martin appointing Adrian Newey as F1 team boss from 2026
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