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Adrian Newey Maps Aston Martin’s 2026 Build: One-to-One Engineering, Hard Deadlines

He cites fear of failure as the driver of his hands-on focus during a rapid build-up to late-January testing.

Overview

  • He splits his time between close one-to-one sessions with engineers and direct design work including drawing board, CFD and vehicle dynamics.
  • Newey warns large meetings risk becoming procedural information exchanges and urges the team to prioritise focused feedback that generates ideas.
  • Aston Martin’s technical group stands at roughly 300 engineers, and he says the priority is to settle the expanded workforce and improve cohesion.
  • Key architectural components such as the gearbox, chassis, and front and rear suspension must be released on tight timelines for the first private test in late January.
  • Despite his track record, he declines to predict 2026 performance and frames early success as hitting milestones and integrating the team effectively.