Aston Martin poised for major shake-up as Adrian Newey’s move confirmed ahead of official announcement – In the world of Formula One, seismic shifts often take place behind closed doors, and now one of the sport’s best-kept secrets is about to become official. Adrian Newey, one of F1’s most revered technical masterminds, is set to leave Red Bull Racing for Aston Martin.
The long-awaited announcement is expected to be made on Tuesday 10 September during an Aston Martin press conference at the Silverstone factory.
Newey’s decision to join Aston Martin is a significant coup for the team, which has been steadily rising through the ranks under the ownership of Lawrence Stroll. The news, first reported by Sky Sports’ Craig Slater, has sent shockwaves through the paddock, with several other high-profile teams, including Ferrari, McLaren and Williams, also reportedly interested in securing Newey’s services.
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Craig Slater broke the news in a report from Silverstone, home of the Aston Martin Formula One team, revealing that Newey had decided to move to Aston Martin following intense interest from other teams.
“I’m in Silverstone now and I’ve been told that Adrian Newey has said yes to Aston Martin,” Slater reported.
“I’m expecting official confirmation early next week, probably on Tuesday. Aston Martin have scheduled a press conference and it would make sense for them to introduce Newey before the next Grand Prix in Azerbaijan.”
The news confirms what many in F1 have suspected for some time: that Lawrence Stroll, Aston Martin’s ambitious owner, has succeeded in persuading Newey to join the team. Stroll has invested heavily in the team’s infrastructure, and Newey’s recruitment is the latest in a series of high-profile signings aimed at turning Aston Martin into a genuine title contender.
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Delayed announcement due to Red Bull commitments
One reason for the delay in confirmation is Newey’s contractual commitments with Red Bull Racing. According to Slater, Newey had commitments to Red Bull earlier this year.
“Newey is said to have contractual commitments with Red Bull and he can’t sign an official contract with Aston Martin until after September 6th,” Slater explained.
“But I understand that Newey and Aston Martin reached an agreement some time ago, and the official signing is expected to take place this week.”
The value of the contract is reported to be in the region of $25 million per year (approximately €23 million), which would put Newey’s salary in line with the top drivers in Formula One. It is believed that Newey will sign a multi-year deal, with Aston Martin also planning to utilise his talents outside of Formula One, possibly incorporating his expertise into the design of road cars, as he has previously done with the Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar.
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Newey’s long association with Lawrence Stroll
Newey’s decision to join Aston Martin is not without reason. Lawrence Stroll has focused on improving Aston Martin’s capabilities both on and off the track, investing heavily in new facilities such as a state-of-the-art simulator, wind tunnel and other tools to improve the team’s competitiveness. Slater explained how Newey’s visit to the new Silverstone factory left a lasting impression on the veteran engineer.
“I understand that when Newey visited the factory and saw all the new infrastructure and tools aimed at getting Aston Martin to the front of the grid, it influenced his decision,” said Slater.
Ferrari, McLaren and Williams had all expressed interest in hiring Newey, but it seems Aston Martin’s ambition and infrastructure was the deciding factor.
Slater added: “For the British fans, it would have been great to see Newey working with Lewis Hamilton at Ferrari, but Aston Martin managed to get his attention.
Newey’s lasting legacy at Red Bull
Although Newey is leaving Red Bull, his influence will be felt throughout the 2024 season. The RB20, a car he designed, could add more trophies to his impressive legacy before his move to Aston Martin is complete.
“The question now is how quickly he can turn Aston Martin into a title contender,” said Slater. “Newey already has 25 titles to his name and Red Bull Racing could add two more this year. But the real test will be how quickly he can make Aston Martin competitive.”
When Newey officially joins Aston Martin, he will work alongside the team’s technical director Dan Fallows, who was previously Newey’s chief aerodynamicist at Red Bull. This reunion with Fallows could help accelerate Aston Martin’s progress, as the two engineers have a wealth of experience working together.
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A wait until 2025
However, Aston Martin fans will have to be patient. Even if Newey is announced next week, he will not be able to take up his role until March 2025 due to his exit clause with Red Bull. This delay means that Newey will have little influence on the 2025 car and his real impact is likely to be felt in subsequent seasons.
The 2026 season is shaping up to be a major turning point for the sport, with new engine regulations and aerodynamic architecture set to be introduced. This, of course, plays to Newey’s strengths. The technical guru is widely regarded as a master of aerodynamics, and Aston Martin will be hoping that his expertise will allow them to capitalise on these changes and become genuine title contenders in the years to come.
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Newey and Alonso: A dream partnership
For Aston Martin’s star driver Fernando Alonso, Newey’s arrival represents the fulfilment of a long-held dream. The two men have never worked together before, but have often expressed the desire to do so. Alonso, now 43, is contracted to Aston Martin until 2026 and Newey’s arrival could give him one last shot at a third world title.
Slater noted that Newey has often been the architect of Alonso’s near-misses in the title race, with Newey-designed cars often beating Alonso to championship glory.
“It’s a bit ironic that Newey is probably the reason why Alonso only has two titles,” Slater said. “It would be a fitting end to Alonso’s career if he could finally secure a title in a Newey-designed car.”
While the F1 world awaits official confirmation, one thing is clear: Aston Martin’s future just got a lot more exciting.
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