Aston Martin team boss reportedly facing dismissal; Horner linked as successor – Aston Martin may be preparing for a major leadership change following the Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend. According to reports from RacingNews365 and the BBC, team principal and Group CEO Andy Cowell is on the verge of being removed from his position.
The possibility of Christian Horner stepping in as his successor is already being discussed within the paddock, adding further intrigue to the developing situation. This website has a source within the team that indicates talks between Horner and Aston Martin have occurred, adding further fuel to the likelihood of such a move. Further speculation also includes another prominent paddock name who might take over as team boss at Aston Martin.
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Cowell’s short tenure under scrutiny
Andy Cowell, 56, took over from Mike Krack as team principal in October 2024. Although Krack did not leave the organisation, he transitioned into the role of chief engineer, remaining heavily involved in the technical side of the operation. Cowell’s appointment followed his move to Aston Martin in 2023 as Group CEO, marking his return to Formula 1 after a highly regarded engineering career at Mercedes.
Despite his strong credentials, Cowell’s tenure has reportedly become unstable. According to multiple sources, the expected departure of several senior technical staff has contributed to internal tensions. Among those said to be leaving is Aerodynamics Director Eric Blandin, a key figure in the team’s recent developments.
Additionally, there have reportedly been disagreements between Cowell and Adrian Newey, who joined Aston Martin as Managing Technical Partner. Given Newey’s influence and reputation in the sport, any friction with senior leadership carries significant weight. Team owner Lawrence Stroll is widely believed to support Cowell’s removal, although this has not been publicly acknowledged.
Possible replacements: Andreas Seidl and Christian Horner
Speculation about Cowell’s successor has quickly intensified. Two prominent names have surfaced: Andreas Seidl and Christian Horner.
Andreas Seidl
Seidl’s experience across multiple motorsport disciplines makes him an obvious candidate. Between 2000 and 2009, he held key roles at BMW during the manufacturer’s Formula 1 programme. Following BMW’s withdrawal, he oversaw the brand’s return to the DTM before moving to Porsche, where he contributed to the marque’s successful LMP1 programme.
In 2019, he returned to Formula 1 as team principal at McLaren, helping to rebuild the organisation’s structure and competitiveness. He then became CEO of Sauber, overseeing the early stages of the team’s transition towards Audi’s 2026 entry, from early 2023 until mid-2024. Given his broad management background and technical understanding, he would be a logical candidate should Aston Martin pursue a stable, methodical leadership approach.
Christian Horner
More surprising, however, is the reported consideration of former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. According to the BBC, Horner is also being discussed internally as a potential replacement. Dismissed from Red Bull in July, Horner would bring nearly two decades of experience leading one of Formula 1’s most successful modern teams.
His involvement would represent a bold and highly visible appointment for Aston Martin, especially as the team prepares for the significant regulation changes due in 2026. However, it remains unclear whether Horner is interested or whether the team is prepared for such a high-profile appointment.
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Aston Martin declined to comment
When contacted regarding Cowell’s status, Aston Martin chose not to confirm or deny the reports. In a brief statement, the team emphasised its intention to “not engage in rumours or speculation”, adding that its priority remains “maximising performance in the remaining races and preparing for 2026”.
The timing of such an internal shake-up is notable, given that teams are already heavily focused on the next era of power unit and chassis regulations. Any leadership changes at this stage could significantly affect long-term project continuity.
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Performance Context
Aston Martin’s on-track results provide further context to the situation. The team is currently seventh in the Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship, which is a significant drop compared to its strong early-season form in 2023. In the Drivers’ Championship, Fernando Alonso is in 13th place with 40 points, while his teammate Lance Stroll is in 15th place with 32 points.
For a team that has received substantial investment, has ambitious long-term goals and has a new factory complex, the current competitive trajectory may be driving the urgency behind organisational changes. Whether Cowell remains in place or a new figure — potentially as prominent as Horner — takes the reins, Aston Martin faces a crucial period in its Formula 1 project.
NEXT ARTICLE: Red Bull exploit cost cap rules
Whilst Max Verstappen’s drive from pit lane to podium in Brazil was an epic watch, some of the competitors were unhappy with how Red Bull had turned their weekend around.
Following a troubled qualifying session that saw both Verstappen and Yuki Tsunoda knocked out in Q1, Red Bull chose to install a fresh power unit in the four-time world champion’s car—forcing him to start from the pit lane. The gamble paid off despite an early-race puncture with Lando Norris admitting had Max Started a little higher up he would probably have won the race.
Red Bull fitting a new power unit which was outside the allocated four for the year was questioned by McLaren’s team boss Andreas Stella who stressed that McLaren would avoid making a performance-driven engine change because of the implications for the $135 million cost cap.
McLaren question Red Bull’s motives
“In terms of performance, I think introducing a new engine nowadays—I don’t know how this works for Honda—but in general these engines don’t exhibit much degradation with mileage,” Stella said.
The McLaren chief went on to query the regulations surrounding taking a fifth Powertrains for performance reasons only. “If the engine was changed for performance reasons, it should go into the cost cap. Let’s see if that’s the case or not. We won’t be able to know—it’s on Red Bull’s side—but this is one reason why we wouldn’t do it, because it would end up in the cost cap.”
Red Bull boss Laurent Mekies was candid about the team’s decision which was refreshingly or recklessly honest. “It’s always good to run a new engine,” he said cheerfully. “We made the decision because Max was starting from the pit lane anyway. To be honest, we were on track to finish the season without needing a new engine.” READ MORE
With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
Alex Stanton is a Formula 1 journalist at TJ13 with a focus on the financial and commercial dynamics that underpin the sport. Alex contributes reporting and analysis on team ownership structures, sponsorship trends, and the evolving business model of Formula 1.
At TJ13, Alex covers topics including manufacturer investment, cost cap implications, and the strategic direction of teams navigating an increasingly complex financial environment. Alex’s work often examines how commercial decisions translate into on-track performance and long-term competitiveness.
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Horner and Newey? Mmmm, given recent events that contributed at least in part, to their departure from Red Bull (and Newey’s specifically), I dont see it… but this is F1, and money talks more than principkles
G