With the recent changes since securing Adrian Newey, Aston Martin’s F1 aerodynamics chief, Eric Blandin, became part of the team’s overhaul before 2026. This decision looks to be linked to the new regulation changes for 2026. In this restructuring, Akio Haga, Aston Martin’s F1 car designer, was also dismissed from his chief position.
Currently seventh in the Constructors’ Championship, the team faced a difficult 2025 season. While other constructors seemed to have improved significantly, Aston Martin dropped two positions in the standings compared to the last two seasons. Both Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll kept steady in P12 and P14, with the Spaniard at a 5-point advantage over his teammate.
Internal staff overhaul
First reported by The Race, Aston Martin began this series of reshuffles as a way to respond to Newey’s feedback. Alongside their new managing technical partner, the team brought Enrico Cardile on board as chief technical officer. This comes as a direct effect of Aston Martin’s focus switch ahead of the F1 2026 season.
In response to questions regarding Blandin’s departure, Aston Martin’s spokesman denied any comment on the matter.
“We don’t comment on internal staff matters, and we don’t have anything to announce.”
This restructuring brought confusion as the fate of seven senior staff members remains uncertain. Due to the tight budget cap, a team member cannot engage with F1 if this would put them outside budget restrictions. Therefore, personnel will have to be moved off team operations.
Andy Cowell’s response
As Aston Martin is in the process of restructuring, CEO Andy Cowell restated the team’s priorities for the 2026 F1 season and beyond. While he mentioned some suspicions, the Briton explained that not even he knew what these changes would look like.
“We all knew and suspected which areas needed to be improved. So we knew we needed to give things a nudge in a good direction. But we didn’t know how much.
“Adrian [Newey] has been able to do the gap analysis by providing the target point. And therefore, then you know the journey that needs to be taken,” added Cowell. Evidently, bringing Newey to Aston Martin was part of the team’s bigger plan of regaining competitiveness.
The need for teamwork
These internal changes managed to unveil a problem within the team’s inner workings. According to Cowell, Aston Martin has more potential for teamwork and a certain “silo mentality culture”. Nevertheless, Blandin’s exit could become part of a bigger overhaul as Cowell put his faith in Adrian Newey.
“There is the case that every department has grown over the last three or four years. So they’ve grown in capacity and toolset capability. But have they grown together as a team? I would question that,” Cowell went on.
“People use the word ‘silos’. Have we got a silo mentality culture? I think there’s more we can do to work together with a pure focus on [what] we’re all here for: the race car.
“I think that’s where having Adrian as one of the most experienced people in the paddock helps so much. So in terms of final decision making, there’s a very clear final decision maker.”
