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Aston Martin Names Adrian Newey Team Principal for 2026 as Cowell Moves to Strategy Role

The reshuffle readies Aston Martin for 2026 by centralizing technical leadership under Newey, with Cowell moving to power‑unit integration.

Overview

  • Newey will become team principal from the 2026 season, expanding beyond his managing technical partner role to lead the technical group and trackside operations.
  • Cowell transitions to chief strategy officer with a brief to optimize the Honda power‑unit integration and partnerships with Aramco and Valvoline, reporting to Lawrence Stroll.
  • Aston Martin frames the change as a mutual, strategic decision to align responsibilities ahead of Formula 1’s 2026 rules reset and the team’s Honda works status.
  • The appointment marks Newey’s first stint as a team principal, following a career credited with multiple drivers’ and constructors’ championships at Williams, McLaren and Red Bull.
  • The move follows weeks of speculation about external candidates such as Christian Horner, while multiple reports point to internal disagreements and recent aero department departures as backdrop.