Alonso: Newey's Promotion to Aston Martin F1 Team Principal a 'Logical Step'

Fernando Alonso, the two-time Formula 1 world champion, sees Adrian Newey's move to Aston Martin team principal in 2026 as a "logical step" for the Silverstone-based squad. This comes after Aston Martin's recent announcement of a significant restructuring, where Newey will transition from managing technical partner to team boss, while incumbent Andy Cowell will become Chief Strategy Officer.

Why it matters:

Aston Martin's ambitious owner, Lawrence Stroll, has invested heavily since taking over in 2018, aiming for championship contention. After a disappointing 2024 season, this leadership shake-up is a clear signal of intent to propel the team back to the front of the grid, especially with the impending 2026 regulation changes and their new partnership with Honda as a works team.

The details:

• Newey's Expanded Role: Initially, Newey's focus was primarily on designing the 2026 car. However, Alonso notes that Newey was already de-facto managing technical development, identifying team reinforcement areas, and overseeing personnel needs, making his official promotion a natural progression.
• Andy Cowell's New Focus: Andy Cowell, who previously led Mercedes' dominant powertrain department, will shift to Chief Strategy Officer, focusing on engine integration to the chassis and broader strategic planning.
• 2026 Regulations: The timing of this restructuring is critical, aligning with the significant technical regulation changes in 2026, which will introduce new power unit rules and car designs.
• Honda Partnership: Aston Martin will become a Honda works team in 2026, ending its customer relationship with Mercedes. This deepens the need for seamless engine-chassis integration and strategic technical leadership.
• Team Growth: Aston Martin has rapidly expanded its workforce and recently opened a new facility near Silverstone. Alonso emphasizes that this growing team needs the guidance of experienced leaders like Newey and Cowell to instill a winning culture.

The big picture:

Lawrence Stroll's commitment to transforming Aston Martin into a front-running team is evident in these high-profile appointments. By securing two of F1's most successful individuals in Newey (chassis and team leadership) and Cowell (engine integration and strategy), combined with Stroll's determination, Aston Martin is assembling a formidable leadership structure. This strategic alignment aims to capitalize on the 2026 rule changes and their new engine partnership with Honda.

What's next:

Alonso believes this new leadership combination, featuring "the two most successful individuals ever in the sport," positions Aston Martin for a strong future. If Newey's "unlimited search for performance and perfection" can permeate the entire team and Cowell can successfully integrate the Honda power unit, Aston Martin could emerge as a serious contender in the 2026 era. The team will be working intensively over the next two years to translate this leadership strength into on-track performance, with all eyes on the debut of their new car and power unit. It's a bold move, but one that could finally deliver on Stroll's championship aspirations.