Adrian Newey opens up on his move to Aston Martin and when he decided to leave Red Bull, as Lawrence Stroll adds on along with his F1 drivers.
The big hiring was completed by Aston Martin on Tuesday when it announced Newey in the role of Managing Technical Partner with shares in his hand too. It is a step up for the Brit from his usual technical role, which he noted too when talking in the press conference.
It is the first time for him in a slightly bigger role of taking key decisions and one which may have persuaded him to join Aston Martin. He agreed that there were calls from other F1 teams too, but didn’t wish to name any of them.
For now, Newey will take a small break while also doing his bit for Red Bull RB17. But from March 1 onward in 2025, he will be fully committed to Aston Martin. It is a full-time role as well, with a large focus on the 2026 machinery when it all starts afresh.
He expanded on his decision to leave Red Bull in Suzuka this year, noting that the F1 team is now mature enough to handle things on its own. He recollected the past years when he stepped back, but returned to designing the cars again after Honda’s arrival.
He doesn’t feel any pressure to prove anything considering how his career has shaped up. And he’s gearing up to work with Lance Stroll and especially Fernando Alonso, who is equally up for the task to work and learn after years of being rivals.
For Lawrence, it is a major signing and a puzzle completing situation after string of hires in the last couple of seasons. He has left no stone unturned to bring the best of the best at Aston Martin in a bid to turn its fortunes and win the championship.
Decision to move away from Red Bull and take up Aston Martin –
Newey: “I felt as if I needed a new challenge. So towards the end of April, I decided I needed to do something different, spent a lot of time with Mandy, my wife, kind of discussing, ‘Okay, what’s next? What do we do? Do we kind of go off and sail around the world? Do I do something different, America’s Cup or whatever?’ So we took a bit of time out, and I felt I had been lucky enough to have achieved what I aspired to from the age of 10 or 12, which is simply to be a designer – I don’t know the word engineer – in motor racing. I can honestly say everything else has been a bonus, having sort of achieved that straight out of university. I never, of course, expected anything like what I’ve been lucky enough to be involved with, but you have to be honest with yourself and keep yourself fresh. So, I felt I needed a new challenge and so I took a bit time off, Lawrence and I have known each other off and on over the years. We often bump into each other in the gym, particularly at the Middle East and Far East races.
“So, as I kind of said, when I announced to everybody that I would be departing the old team, I was very flattered to have a lot of approaches from various teams. But really, Lawrence’s passion and commitment and enthusiasm is very endearing. It’s very persuasive. The reality is, if you go back 20 years, then what we now call team principals are actually the owners of the teams, Frank Williams, Ron Dennis, Eddie Jordan, etc, etc. In this modern era, Lawrence is actually unique in being the only properly active team owner. And I think that does bring a different feeling when you have somebody like Lawrence involved, like that. It’s back to the old school model and to have the chance to be a shareholder and a partner, is something that has never been offered to me before. So it’s a slightly different slant. It’s one I’m very much looking forward to. It became a very natural choice. In detail, I decided to stop at Red Bull, which was kind of really over the Suzuka weekend back in April. Then genuinely had no idea what would be next. Just wanted to have a blank mind, kind of take stock, enjoy a bit of a break and was hoping that standing in the shower somewhere, the spark would come of, ‘yep, this should be the direction’. And Mandy was a big part of that as well, of our discussions and what should we do.
“So, yeah, I think kind of come late June, let’s say certainly, then I felt actually, you know what, it’s what I’ve ever, to be involved as a designer in motor racing, has been my ambition since the age of 10 or so. I’ve been lucky enough to achieve that. I think it would be an exaggeration to say I’ve enjoyed every single day of my career, but well over 90% has been hugely enjoyable. I still love the challenge of trying to add performance to the car. That’s my kind of prime motivation. That’s what gets me up in the morning. And I think then if you’re going to work, I think what’s amazing about technical sport, if you like, so by technical sport I mean that combination of man and machine, then you have that immediate feedback of how you’re doing. It can be painful of course when you’re doing badly, but you have that feedback. And if I compare that back to lots of my friends who I still keep in contact with from university, from my aeronautics course, then they went to work for British Aerospace and Rolls-Royce engines and so forth and they had no feedback.
“So I think I’ve chose well, if you like in my aspirations, to work in this man and machine sport. And then if you say: ‘Okay, well, what’s the pinnacle of man and machine?’ Clearly, it’s Formula 1. So yes, I remain interested in the America’s Cup. I remain interested in many other things, but if I’m going to do man and machine, I might as well keep going at the pinnacle as long as people want me. Looking back, it’s well known in 2014 with the hybrid engine, we were in a position where we didn’t have a very competitive PU and with no light at the end of the tunnel. So that’s when I felt I needed something else to kind of also be involved in, which of course became Valkyrie. Once we got the Honda PU, it was a very different position and so then I got properly back involved on the Formula 1 side with the 16, I think it was 14, 15, 16, 16B and then the 18 and so forth. But certainly it’s now a very mature team, so I felt able to, once we got through the peak of designing the research and design of the 22 car, the big regulation change car, to step back a little bit because the 2023 and this year’s car are very much evolutions of that first 2022 car. But this is something different, it’s that fresh challenge, that kind of new stimulation and so I always do what I feel is needed for the best of the team.”
Lawrence Stroll factor, impressive facilities –
Newey: “I think what Lawrence and Martin have been able to built here, these facilities are just stunning. It’s not an easy thing to do to build a brand new factory in a greenfield site and have a really nice, warm, creative feel to it because after all that’s what we are here for, to try to be creative and come up with good solutions particularly with good communication between everybody that works here. I’ve seen some new buildings that haven’t quite fulfilled that. But this one has a great feel, has all the proportions right, has all the facilities right, so you are absolutely right, I’m so looking forward to starting, to getting to know everybody here, to work with them and go from there.
“The building’s clearly mightily impressive it has a great feel to it, but the second bit which we didn’t talk about is I think it’s a real demonstration of Lawrence’s commitment to envision for where he wants the team to get to. This is…I don’t know how much it costs but it’s not going to be cheap, so it really demonstrates that I mean not you, I’ll find other ways of spending money now for him within the cost cap. I think, the combination of seeing all the facilities, how nice a feel and how well thought out the building is, and perhaps most of all, that very visual demonstration. If I had to describe Lawrence in one sentence, (I’d say) he has total belief, he has a direction, and he’s happy to be put all his chips on black, and that’s what he’s doing here.”
Work in 2026, looking to 2026, start –
Newey: “The PU [Power unit], of course, has been announced for some time. Honda, of course, are working very hard on that. I’ll be very pleased to stay working with Honda. I’ve really enjoyed working with them over the last six years at Red Bull. A great bunch of engineers, very easy to work with. On the chassis side, the aerodynamic regulations will be announced on the 1st or 2nd of January. So I will be joining, kind of, two months into that. It will be a case of getting myself up to speed as soon as possible. And just as importantly, getting to know everybody here. Learning how to work with everybody and how we all get the best out of each other. That’s what it’s really about. That’s what it is really about. The 2026 rules, yes of course, they are an opportunity because there’ll be a reset for everybody, whether we’ll be able to capitalize on that or not we just don’t know.
“I think I never spend too long fretting about these things, attitude is always get on and do the best job you you can and what will be will be at that point. But yes, moving teams is always a big commitment, to try to understand how everybody works, to engage with them, to be involved in shaping things, if necessary. It takes time, it takes commitment. So yes, of course, to start with once I start, then I’ll be fully in. I need to be, I have to be. The good news, though, is that I’ve really been in motor racing, working at the track, actually, since 1982 with Formula Two, then in IndyCar in America, and then Formula 1 since 1988 pretty much nonstop, without a break. So far, the summer’s been a little bit busier than Mandy (Newey’s wife) and I had anticipated. But, from Thursday, we’re going to go off and take a bit of holiday time and take a bit of a break. I’ve obviously got my RB17 commitments also to balance there, but really get a bit of a break and enjoy ourselves so that, when the second of March comes, I’m fully rested and raring to go.
Others bidding, rumours –
Newey: “I think from my part, then, very flattered by the number of teams that did approach me. I had discussions with some of those teams, not all of them, but in the end, it became a very clear and natural choice. I think arguably, next to Ferrari, then Aston Martin is the most iconic brand across the world. It’s got such a presence and a feel to it so, of course, that’s special. It also ties actually in quite well, because obviously, I was involved with the Valkyrie project, and I have a couple of classic Astons as well. So I’m well familiar with the brand and the magic that goes with that. I’ll be honest I don’t really read it, I don’t look at it, I don’t watch it. Mandy keeps me informed roughly. I’m relatively impervious to that.
“I decided that’s what I should do many years ago and in my second year in Formula 1 when having sort of done a decent car in the first year, the second year was a bit of a bit of a camel and so having read good press about myself in the first year, I decided okay well I can’t kind of get my ego all pumped up from reading good press and then get all depressed when I’m reading bad press, so best solution to that is don’t read any press at all and that’s what I’ve always adhered to since. So apart from people coming up to me and telling me that I’m in the press all the time and I keep blocking up their inbox or whatever then I don’t really know about it.”
Drivers –
Newey: “Lance I’ve known for many years back from his F3 days, where my lad Harry was also racing F3 the same time that Lance was. I admired him. He dominated the second half of that year in F3. Fernando, we’ve battled against each other for so many years. He’s been a bit of an arch-enemy at times. We came so close to him joining Red Bull in 2008 for the 2009 season, but unfortunately it didn’t quite happen, which is a shame. So we continued to battle against each other. He’s a legend of the sport, so very much looking forward to working with him.
Pressure to deliver –
Newey: “My pressure comes from within, it doesn’t come from external. I guess I remember Frank Williams, it must have been in 1991, he had a comment saying to me that he felt I was the most competitive person in the pit lane and I remember being a little bit upset about that at the time, I didn’t really know what he meant and I’m not sure he’s right either, I wouldn’t like to say, for instance that Fernando or Lance or whatever are less competitive either but I can can’t deny that I am competitive um in my profession I’m not really so much in sorts of hobbies and so forth, but in profession I am and so as I said I just put pressure on myself to do the best job possible. I suppose perhaps because I have been fortunate enough to have had a decent set of results then then I don’t kind of feel the need to prove myself anymore to the external world but as I say in reality that’s not never been my motivation anyway, my motivation is trying to to do the best job I can and feel as if regardless of what the results are I’ve done the best job I can.”
Bringing in Newey, bargain, his role –
Stroll: “We really did begin to speak briefly about three years back. The most recent talks in earnest began after I read Adrian’s news of his departure. Once I read that, I said, well, again, I believe this is meant to be. I believe Adrian will share my vision. He’s a super smart guy. So it was really when I read the April departure announcement. So, it was really when I read the April departure announcement. We have a strong team, some of which Adrian has already worked with. Adrian is going to be the technical managing partner of that team. So on a day-to-day basis, he’ll be here full commitment, full-time committed to Formula 1, giving leadership and direction to the team.
“As I noted, Adrian is joining as Technical Managing Partner. He will be the leader of the technical team. He’ll be a leader also in the company and the overall business as a partner and shareholder. So I leave that structure up to Adrian, who’s much better suited than myself. I can tell you, Adrian is a bargain. I’ve been in business for over 40 years now and I’ve never been more certain. It’s not an investment. He’s a shareholder and a partner. He’s the best partner I can bring into a company, we intend to be around here a very long time together. So it’s relatively inexpensive for everything Adrian brings in the partnership we will have.”
Lance Stroll: “Yeah, it’s a huge day. There’s already a lot said, but I think it’s really the most exciting day in this team’s history. Adrian’s won more championships than anyone in the paddock and now he’s wearing green. So it’s an extremely exciting day. 2026 is not far away. A completely new set of regulations, a lot of opportunity, and we’re really constructing an incredible team with so many talented people that are already here. Now Adrian’s coming on board, so really exciting.”
Alonso: “I think, yeah, as you said, been racing against each other for many years. I would say that he was more an inspiration. I think thanks to Adrian and his talent and cars, I think we all got better as a driver, as engineers, teams. We all had to raise the bar thanks to him to be able to compete. I think now is an incredible day for the team. Lawrence’s vision is taking shape with this building, with Adrian, with Honda, Aramco, new wind tunnel, definitely the team of the future, I would say.
“And yeah, for me, it’s going to be an incredible opportunity professionally to work with Adrian and to keep wearing this green colour, which I’m very proud to be part of. But also it’s on a personal side, an incredible opportunity to work with this, with these people that you can learn so much from them. I think I was talking with Lance a few weeks ago, the incredible opportunity we have to witness and to work with Lawrence and with everyone. Aston Martin, which definitely we are learning a lot of things on track, off track as well. And it’s a part of our growth personally as well.”
Final piece in puzzle –
Stroll: “There’s been many pieces as a puzzle from when we started six years ago to hiring the great management team we have today. To bringing in two of the greatest partners in the industry. We’ve brought Aramco to be our partner and they really are a partner. There’s no better partnership in the world than we have with Aramco. And to be able to bring Honda exclusively to work for us for the next five years after the new regulation starts. Our partners are also tremendously important. Adrian is key, key, key and the biggest part of the puzzle. Certainly from a technical point of view, from a leadership point of view. He will be leading the team. And I think that will have a trickle down effect throughout the whole organisation.”
Energies –
Stroll: “Our energy is focused…we just really finished moving to this building last week. Building 3 which houses are wind tunnel will be operational at the end of this year or certainly very early part of next year. This was missing in order to perform at the top. We had a slight distraction moving into this building. We had a very strong start to 2023 as you know, the first nine races were great. These ground effect cars are rather complex, and obviously we went in the different or clearly appears now a wrong direction. We’re trying to find our way back. We’re currently fifth in the championship, in all honesty, for a team like us, with just moving into this building, with not having all our tools in place, without having a true, big technical leader as Adrian – I would like to be in a better space, don’t get me wrong, but our focus really lies on doing a better car for ’25 but really, most importantly, we’ll be focusing most of our energy next year on ’26. Re-set, new rules, new power unit, building is up and running, wind tunnel is running. So that’s really going to be our focus.”
Here’s Aston Martin announcing Adrian Newey
Here’s Fernando Alonso on raising the bar
Here’s Fernando Alonso on Italian GP
Here’s Fernando Alonso getting the Aston Martin Valkyrie
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