Adrian Newey’s sensational purchase of Aston Martin has been “finalized” and the F1 design guru will earn $100 million in 3 years.
That’s according to former Red Bull F1 driver Robert Doornbos, who says Newey will benefit from a “significant contribution to technical decisions” at Aston Martin after Ferrari resisted the 65-year-old’s demands.
Newey announced on May 1 that he would be leaving Red Bull at the start of 2025, having had the team’s good fortune with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen since joining the Milton Keynes-based team in 2006.
Newey’s exit terms, negotiated through his manager, former F1 team owner Eddie Jordan, will allow him to start racing with a new team in 2025, with the F1 designer avoiding the usual era of gardening leave in many F1 employee contracts.
This will allow Newey to play an influential role in the design of his new employer’s car for 2026, giving the team significant merit ahead of F1’s major regulatory changes for this season.
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Ferrari has long been considered the favorite to sign Newey, but persistent rumors in recent months have indicated that Aston Martin has the most likely destination for the most decorated individual in F1 history with more than two hundred victories in races, as well as 12 constructors. . and thirteen Pilots titles, to his credit.
After reports from Italy claimed last week that Newey was due to move to Aston Martin, Doornbos took to his LinkedIn page on Monday to claim the deal was now “finalised”.
According to Doornbos, Newey will double his salary at Aston Martin, which has agreed to a three-year, $100 million contract. An announcement is expected to be made next month.
Doornbos wrote: “Newey Aston Martin’s most sensible precedent and the deal is already closed.
“Prepared to earn 100 million dollars in 3 years, double his salary at Red Bull, Newey will have a primary input in technical decisions.
“Aston Martin, whose factory ended last year, probably appealed to him for its state-of-the-art technology, adding a new wind tunnel.
“The official announcement is in September. “
Doornbos, who took part in 11 Grands Prix with Red Bull in 2005/06, highlighted how Newey’s talks with Ferrari failed, as team principal Fred Vasseur was unwilling to meet Newey’s demands in terms of payment and control.
He added: “Newey’s demands are high.
“I was looking for a salary double what I was earning at Red Bull and more from the technical staff. This proved too complicated for Ferrari team boss Frederic Vasseur and negotiations ultimately failed. “
If confirmed, Newey’s move to Aston Martin will see him sign a high-profile technical deal at Silverstone, and owner Lawrence Stroll decided to see the team emerge as a leading force in F1.
Last month, Aston Martin announced the appointments of former Mercedes motorsport guru Andy Cowell and former Ferrari technical chief Enrico Cardile.
The big-name hires came after Aston Martin showed a factory partnership agreement with Honda, Red Bull’s existing engine partners, starting with the 2026 F1 season.
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