Formula 1 design guru Adrian Newey and his “very special” presence is already having a positive impact at Aston Martin, according to both its drivers.
The famed technical whizz officially joined the Silverstone-based squad in March, after announcing his intention to hook up with the team last year.
Newey has been beavering away at the team’s technology campus since commencing work, putting all his efforts into the car that will contest next season.
2026’s new technical regulations will be a code that teams will have to crack to ensure a successful interpretation of of them, and Newey is perhaps better placed than many to do so.
Lance Stroll is locked in for next season, and the often-reserved Canadian, speaking ahead of last month’s Dutch Grand Prix, appeared full of enthusiasm with Newey’s presence.
“We spent some time together and it’s always great just hearing what he has to say and just talking about the future,” he told media including Motorsport Week.
“But right now, it’s full focus on making next year’s machine.
“He’s been doing it for this long and he’s won more championships than anyone in this paddock, so I guess that says it all.”
Stroll added: “I think there’s not much reason not to smile about Adrian Newey making next year’s car, so it’s all exciting times.”
Asked whether Newey’s additional role as a stakeholder in the team, something he has not been with any of his previous employers, has any further bearing, Stroll said: “Yeah.
“I think he’s just so passionate and excited about the new regs. That’s what’s awesome to see, just how much passion, focus, effort is going into the new new regs and the team too.
“Just being in a new environment, new team, he’s just uplifting everyone and just creating this healthier culture inside of the whole factory.
“That’s pretty awesome to see.”
Stroll additionally conveyed his excitment at Honda’s involvement, the Japanese marque re-emerging in F1 as the team’s engine supplier.
“Also very exciting. All of it,” he said. “Just all the pieces of the puzzle coming together and it’s just an exciting time for us as a team.”
Aston Martin still learning the Newey approach – Alonso
One of the most exciting prospects for F1 fans is the union between a Newey-designed car and Fernando Alonso, still regarded as one of the top drivers in the sport.
The Spaniard, in nearly 25 years of F1 experience, has yet to work with Newey, adding to the excitment, something Alonso himself is evidently feeling.
“Yes, definitely,” he told media including Motorsport Week when asked if he is beginning to understand Newey’s work methods and processes.
“You spend more time with him and you keep learning things and how he works and how he approach things, challenges, all these normal day-by-day, things in Formula 1.
“But I think he’s still a person that is very special and I think only few people will understand him fully and will be able to know exactly what he’s thinking and what he’s doing.
“So we will need more time. At the moment, we are in a phase of learning from him.
“Every conversation, every idea, everything that he says, we take it very carefully.
“We listen and we try to understand the approach that he’s taking into that comment.
“And thanks to that, I think we are growing as a team, so it has been very special for sure.”
When asked if Newey is also finding a mutual understanding of him, Alonso said: “I think so!
“I think all the questions and all the ideas that he raises, he explains why he thinks that it’s going to be a good solution for the team, for the car and for the drivers as well.
“In terms of how to approach the corner entry, maybe next year is very different than this year’s cars.
“Top speed is going to be different next year. Tyres are going to be different next year.
“So he tries to anticipate what the drivers will face in certain moments on the lap, in quali, versus the race and all this kind of thing. So he’s very educative.”
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