Aston Martin F1 CEO and team principal Andy Cowell has offered his insight into the outfit’s recent restructuring plan that aims to transform the Silverstone-based team into a championship-winning force.
With extensive control adjustments and renewed performance, Cowell has firmly established his appeal in fitting in with a name contender for years to come, calling him the team’s “North Star. “
The adjustments come after Aston Martin finished fifth in the constructors’ championship for the second year in a row.
While the 2023 season started strong, with Fernando Alonso first challenging Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, the team’s performance dipped, resulting in a particular decrease in problems overall than last year: 94 problems compared to 280 in 2023.
This performance shortfall prompted a thorough evaluation of the team’s organization and working methods, leading to the recent restructuring.
Cowell, famous for his engineering prowess in Mercedes’ dominant V6 hybrid era, took on the dual role of CEO and team principal, while former team principal Mike Krack took on the newly created role of track director.
The changes, which aim to create a flatter control structure, also see Enrico Cardile take on the day-to-day work of CTO, leading the AMR generation campus team.
As for Adrian Newey, Aston’s managing technical partner will take on a hands-on supervisory and contributing role within the team’s engineering department.
“The adjustments are aimed at organizational clarity and racing car performance,” Cowell explained.
“That is why we made the resolution to convert the aerodynamics, engineering and functionality departments into separate and engaged groups on the track at the AMR generation campus. “
©AstonMartin
“The trackside team will be led by Mike [Krack], who becomes the team’s Chief Trackside Officer, and the latter will be led by Enrico [Cardile] in the role of Chief Technical Officer, with both reporting into me.”
In refining those roles, Cowell aims to maximize functionality on two fronts.
“This restructuring means Mike’s team can focus on getting the maximum performance out of the car at every Grand Prix and Enrico’s team can focus on the complex challenge of creating a new race car,” he added.
Aston Martin has been clear about its ambitions to move from midfield contenders to championship challengers.
After finishing fifth in the constructors’ standings for two consecutive seasons, the team has doubled down on its commitment to becoming a front-runner, particularly with the upcoming regulation changes in 2026.
“Building a World Championship-winning team is our north star,” Cowell said emphatically. “All we talk about is what it takes to make this vision a reality. “
Cowell outlined his role in making this vision a reality, focusing on leadership, infrastructure and cohesion.
“My task is to determine which organization is right to achieve this vision: Do we have the right structure?Do we have the right other people in the right places?Do we have the right infrastructure? Are you all moving in the right direction?The same direction and paintings as a cohesive unit?
“I set overall goals for the leadership team and work with them to identify a path forward to achieve the goals that aim to get us to where we need to be.
“And I get us to prioritize the right things and work on things in the right order. “
“Lawrence has put a lot of trust in me to bring this team to the front of the grid. It’s a wonderful lesson in humility and it’s a wonderful privilege. “
In conclusion, despite the demanding situations ahead, Cowell remains firmly convinced that Aston Martin has the equipment and ability to succeed.
With a revamped control structure, amenities and a clear focus on performance, the team is positioned as a serious contender in the upcoming Formula 1 bankruptcy.
Stay up to date with the latest news from F1 X and Facebook
Stay up to date with the latest F1 news, reports and effects on F1i. com. It also provides you with reports, articles, interviews, videos, images and vintage content.