Aston Martin team principal Andy Cowell discussed Adrian Newey’s influence on the squad and their preparations for 2026 ahead of the F1 Saudi Arabian GP.
The team has endured a challenging start to the season, performing below expectations. Another no-score at the F1 Saudi Arabian GP meant the team returned empty-handed once again. It hasn’t been an isolated bleep, as it has happened after every single round of the recent flyway triple header. Aston Martin is currently seventh in the standings, behind the likes of Haas and a much-improved Williams.
Fernando Alonso has had a particularly tough time. In fact, he retired from the races held in Australia and China, and failedto score points on subsequent outings.
Cowell on Newey’s influence
The team has pinned much of its hopes for a turnaround on their recent big-name signing, Adrian Newey. The British engineer is said to be focusing on the design of the 2026 challenger. However, Cowell highlighted that his processes and work ethic may indirectly influence the development of the 2025 car.
“Yeah, absolutely,” Cowell told the media during the F1 Saudi Arabian GP. “With the methods and the tools and the approach that’s taken to looking at the data, interpreting the data and also prioritising what we feel is the best thing to chase…That’s how you create a car that can be driven around a track quicker.”
“Adrian’s got a huge amount of experience,” he said. “Experience in the art of a racing car, which is made up of many systems. Whether it’s aerodynamics, kinematics of the suspension, ease of adjustability in a racetrack environment… And the quality that you should aspire to with regards to aerodynamic surfaces and the robustness of those surfaces through a race weekend.”
Over the past few years, Aston Martin has dedicated substantial funds and resources towards the development and modernisation of their state-of-the-art factory and campus at their Silverstone F1 headquarters. According to Cowell, the facilities have impressed Newey.
“Adrian’s hugely complimentary about the campus,” he said. “He’s been positive about the tunnel that we’ve got and the way that everything’s been set up.”
Cowell added. “He is of course pushing for us to improve the way we operate in the tunnel, the way we operate with CFD, the way we operate with lap simulations. Pretty much everything.
“That’s the great thing about Adrian’s competitive drive. He balances it very well, in terms of, ‘that bit’s fine, it’s this bit that we need to work on.’”
Preparations are underway for 2026
The message from Aston Martin is clear. Newey remains fully focused on the 2026 F1 car and is not assisting with the current challenges. Asked whether Newey has had any direct say in the performance development of the AMR25, Cowell clarified that his input has mostly been foundational rather than specific.
“The focus is largely on the tools that we’re using.” He explained, “Rather than any direct performance aspect for the 2025 car.”
Cowell continued:“One hundred per cent of Adrian’s designing time is focused on ’26.
“He joined in March, so there was a period of him getting up to speed with the regulations, up to speed with the concept work that we’ve been doing in the preceding couple of months.
“And there are some tough deadlines to meet for releasing monopod details, transmission details, and the cars are running earlier for the ’26 season.
“The test is at the end of January, so getting a car ready for that point requires a slightly earlier decision point. And clearly, everything’s new. There’s zero carryover. So there’s lots of work there, and Adrian has just been focused on that.”
