Helmut Marko has revealed that Adrian Newey is “not doing well,” after speaking to the Aston Martin Team Principal amid its troubling start to the Formula 1 season.
The 67-year-old designer has been at the centre of attention since the new campaign began in Melbourne, but, uncharacteristically, for the wrong reasons.
Newey has been mired in the Silverstone-based squad‘s issue-woven start to the season, amid a problematic relationship with engine suppliers, Honda.
The Japanese marque’s power unit, exclusive to the team, has been fraught with reliability issues, including its now-infamous vibrations which have plagued its drivers.
In Australia, Newey, who designed the AMR26 to which the Honda engine is bolted, revealed that Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll were at risk of “permanent nerve damage” by the vibrations, with both cars subsequently retiring.
In China, Newey was not present on the pit wall as it suffered another double-DNF, with further drama to come in the following week.
As rumours swelled that Newey was set to step down, Audi Team Principal Jonathan Wheatley sensationally quit his role, sparking further speculation he is set to take over.
With part-owner Lawrence Stroll issuing a firm rejection of all speculation, Newey is set to be at the helm for Honda’s home Grand Prix at Suzuka this weekend.
But speaking to Austrian publication OE24, former Red Bull stalwart Marko, who was instrumental in Newey’s hiring to the Milton Keynes-based outfit in 2005, revealed he has made contact with the famed technical guru.
“I had contact with him. He is not doing well,” he said.
“With this project, there are problems that will not be solved so quickly.”
Newey is without a doubt a man with a lot on his shoulders right now, but there is a long way to go for the Aston/Honda project.
It is not the first time he has faced adversity in his long and distinguished F1 career, and has always come out of it the other side with his reputation and genius intact.
The long-running saga is entering a new chapter, but with F1’s unplanned five-week gap commencing after Japan, Newey will be hard at work to help see Aston climb up the grid.
READ MORE – Jak Crawford to drive for Aston Martin in FP1 for Japanese GP
Discussion about this post