Adrian Newey Spotted Inspecting McLaren MCL39 Thrice at Qatar GP

Adrian Newey, soon to be Aston Martin's team principal, was observed by PlanetF1.com meticulously inspecting the McLaren MCL39 for the third time this season at the Qatar Grand Prix on Saturday. This repeated scrutiny of a rival car by F1's most decorated designer raises questions about Aston Martin's strategic approach for the upcoming 2026 regulations and their immediate competitive ambitions.

Why it matters:

After joining Aston Martin as managing technical partner and shareholder in March, Newey's recent appointment as team principal for the 2026 season signals a significant shift in the team's leadership structure and strategic direction. His deep interest in the McLaren MCL39, a car widely regarded as a benchmark, highlights Aston Martin's commitment to understanding and surpassing current top-tier performance as they develop their Honda-powered AMR26 under the new regulations.

The details:

• Newey's third trackside appearance with Aston Martin this season in Qatar follows previous visits to Monaco and Silverstone, where the dominant MCL39 of Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri also drew his attention.
• On-the-ground reporters captured Newey closely examining the rear-right corner of Norris's McLaren on the grid ahead of Saturday's sprint race.
• Team Reshuffle: The team's internal restructuring will see current team boss Andy Cowell transition to Chief Strategy Officer. In this role, Cowell will manage the critical relationship between Aston Martin, new engine partner Honda, and fuel supplier Aramco, particularly for the early stages of the 2026 season.
• Newey's Rationale: Newey explained his new role will not compromise his primary focus on design and development. He stated that Cowell "magnanimously volunteered" for the Chief Strategy Officer position, allowing Newey to assume the team principal duties for the initial races of 2026 without a significant change to his existing workload.
• Norris started the sprint race from the second row, alongside Fernando Alonso, who ultimately finished seventh after falling behind Max Verstappen, Yuki Tsunoda, and Andrea Kimi Antonelli.

What's next:

Newey is determined to ensure his new team principal responsibilities do not dilute his core duties in design and development, which he considers his primary passion. With his focus remaining on engineering while taking on leadership, Aston Martin aims to leverage his unparalleled expertise to elevate their competitive standing. The coming seasons, particularly leading up to the 2026 regulation changes, will reveal how effectively this new strategic alignment translates into on-track performance.