Due to the “blocky” of Adrian Newey “tools” through the gardening license, as well as the nature of the F1 2026 regulations, the F1 design guru says it will be Aston Martin’s curve.
Newey is one, if not the greatest formula 1 car designer of all time, with a good fortune winner of names in Williams, McLaren and Red Bull in their CV, and Newey has been with Red Bull for the 14 good fortunes in All driver classification and builders to date. However, Newey is back in motion.
Following the announcement of his departure from Shock Red Bull, Newey struck a deal with Aston Martin to take on the role of newly created “technical management partner”, the 66-year-old donated shares in the team led through Lawrence Stroll.
Newey is set to start Aston Martin life from March 2, three months after teams are allowed to begin work on the huge regulatory reset coming for F1 2026, when new chassis and power unit rules are introduced.
With Aston Martin taking over Red Bull’s Honda Force Unit in 2026, the Silverstone team will be heading for F1 name glory with Newey heading towards that next set of rules. However, it fights against the odds.
While appearing on the Autocar podcast, it was put to Newey that while he has been on a period of soft gardening leave since May after announcing his Red Bull exit, with the RB17 hypercar his final focus, Red Bull cannot stop him thinking of innovations that will benefit his future employer Aston Martin.
He replied, “No, they can’t, they blocked my tools.
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“So obviously, Aston wants to do the best job they can in ’25, but my main kind of focus will be the ’26 regulations and this big change, because I start on March 2.
“The aero rules come out, I think, 1 January, or might be the second, whatever the working day is.
“So I will be in some way two months The regulations have been really in front of a CAD formula [computer assisted design], to be able to perceive all boxes, etc.
“But also, you will know a new team, to meet all the types and women there and how we all paint them together. “
Newey is part of a cluster of recent high-profile acquisitions for Aston Martin, the team also bringing in Andy Cowell – head of the Mercedes engine programme during their time dominating Formula 1 – as their new group CEO, while Enrico Cardile has joined the team from Ferrari as Aston Martin’s new chief technical officer.
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